ENTERTAINMENT

Artiste Profile: Meet Bongo Riot, South African’s Most Prolific Reggae Dancehall Artiste

Published

3 years ago

April 29, 2022

Multiple award winning and most vibrant reggae cum dancehall artiste, Bongo Riot, born Mphikeleli Zungu, took a bold step with his solo career channeling his love for music through a music genre that isn’t so popular in South Africa amongst the youth in comparison to House; Kwaito, Amapiano and Hip Hop.

However, with his leading single “Saka Leyena” receiving positive feedback in the form of radio plays, it has proven to be a step in the right direction for the innovative musician who is setting to embark on a country-wide tour to promote his upcoming album.

It would be an unfair assumption to state that Riot’s career started when he joined Gang Of Instrumentals, a musical group in South Africa. The truth is, that’s where we all got to know the kwaThema resident after his voice reverberated over Teargas’ “Champions”, a song that took South Africa by storm and put Riot on the map.

Crowned ”Mzansi’s Finest” after he won a Castle Lager Hip Hop competition that required him to battle Hip Hop performers around South Africa, Riot
boldly stood out with his Ragga/Reggae rhymes as a member of SAMA winning urban-pop group from Johannesburg, Gang Of Instrumentals, whose members included the songstress (Tumi) and
rapper Mandla N.

In the shedding of his dreadlocks, he emancipated himself and aptly dropped the “Bongo” from his stage name. Bongo Riot is the king of the Southern Africa Reggae Dancehall fraternity.

In the quest for independence and to further showcase his skills, Riot signed with TS Records with a licensing deal from EMI Music/CCP Records and released a 14-track album that kicks off with a nostalgic intro that flows into the second track – “Far Away Bride” and you will certainly know that you’re in for a treat with the Reggae/Ragga album. The bulk of the production is from the legendary Robbie Malinga as well as fellow stable mate at TS Records, Lungelo and also boasts a feature from Lungelo on “Life” and Zahara on a track called “Thetha Nami”. The album, which is suitably titled “I Am an African”, is a melting pot of Reggae/Ragga/Hip Hop and Afro-Soul sounds.

Bongo Riot is currently working with Bantu Media Productions and in 2019, he released a new album titled “Next Levels” His Music will be distributed through Powertainment Reggae Sound.

“Bongo Riot” aka Dancehall Wakanda, is one of the greatest South African vocalists who does not excel only in Dancehall/Reggae genres but also does House, Afrobeat, Amapiano and Pop.