(From left to right) Boski, Debbie with a T, Aether, Mandisa Mabuthoe, and Tafnaz the Acoustic BadBoi
The Contrabanditz (pictured) is a Botswana-based fusion band that is making a splash on the local music scene with their Spoken Word-infused music. Debuting just this May, the Contrabanditz hopes to take Africa by storm with their captivating sound. Meet the group here.
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While Boski, the percussionist; Debbie with a T, vocalist; Mandisa Mabuthoe, singer
Debbie with a T and Mandisa Mabuthoe performing at Jazz X Change in Botswana
and poet; Tafnaz, the Zimbabwean-born guitarist and singer; and Aether, both multi-instrumentalist and rapper, have all been performing independently for the last five years, Contrabanditz founder, Manager, and Creative Director Selby Urban told Face2Face Africa that he established the group in July 2014 “to have depth in terms of meaning and consciousness but still be marketable.
“The Contrabanditz is a group of five bright and hardworking talents — each with their own reputation — in Botswana. It’s an ‘Avengers’ type of project,” he said.
After spending nearly a year developing their sound — with muses as diverse as Lauryn Hill, Hugh Masekela, Erykah Badu, Brenda Fassie, Youssour N’Dour, and more — the Contrabanditz hit the local Botswana music scene with “Lose Myself,” “Giving Him Something,” and “Save Tonight.”
Watch Contrabanditz perform “Lose Myself” here:
Now the Contrabanditz is looking forward to releasing their first album, entitled “Covering Ground,” in October.
The boys of the Contrabanditz, from left to right, Boski the Percussionist, Tafnaz the Acoustic BadBoi and Aether
Of their upcoming offering, Tafnaz says, “The EP will revolutionize the African style of song writing.”
In order to make their EP a reality, though, the group is hoping to raise $5,000 in order to cover production, video, and recording costs.
Donate to the making of their album here.
And enjoy more Contrabanditz offerings below:
