Welcome to Ngoma Zethu! A Southern African Music & Cultural Experience

Ngoma Zethu is the place to acquire new knowledge and information on Southern African music and culture. The phrase ‘ngoma zethu’ originates from various Bantu languages of East, Central, Central West and Southern Africa, and it has a wide meaning. It also has a slightly different spelling on the possessive pronoun (zethu/zathu/zetu) depending on the Bantu region of Africa where it’s being used. The word may mean Our music, Our dance, Our Song, Our Culture, Our Drum, or ‘Our History. Philosophically it simply means Our way of life.

In Southern Africa, the word ‘Ngoma’ also is used with the prefix ‘isa’ (isangoma - ‘child of song’, bring to the culture or bring to indigenous knowledge) as a common noun referring to a custodian of the culture who specializes in indigenous African divinity. When the word ngoma is used with the prefix ‘no’ as in Nongoma, it means mother of song. This is the core foundation of the Bantu. The word Bantu means human being and the word ngoma is one of the most unifying words in all Bantu cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Ngoma Zethu project is a conception by the South African guitarist, composer, arranger, producer and music instructor Mongezi ‘Chris’ Ntaka who has decades long experience in recording, touring and teaching. In his long career Mongezi has worked with some of South Africa’s prominent artists, including Lucky Dube, Vusi Mahlasela, Hugh Masekela, Lorraine Klaasen, Jonas Gwangwa and Sibongile Khumalo.

Ngoma Zethu is a musical and cultural exchange program between South African Jazz and Township musicians and International Jazz musicians, including those in the United States. This collaborative project includes individual musicians, arts schools, music conservatories, and music programs in colleges and universities. The goals and objectives of this project are to enrich musicians from these two continents with knowledge of different Jazz rhythms and harmony. Mongezi already works with Jazz and Township musicians in South Africa who have studied American Jazz and he sees areas where international Jazz musicians and music students can benefit greatly by studying and learning from South African Jazz and Township musicians.

During the winter of 2023, Mongezi and his musical partner, Lorraine Klaasen, embarked on a journey to South Africa to do research on the indigenous music of South Africa. Mongezi and Lorraine interviewed some of South Africa’s celebrated artists in indigenous music, including Dr. Nothembi Mkhwebane, Dr. Tu Nokwe, Dr. Vusi Mahlasela, Billy Monama, Frazer Berry and music journalist Sam Mathe. While on this trip, Mongezi conducted music workshops with some of the Jazz and Township musicians that he worked with or collaborated with before he moved to the United States almost three decades ago. Some of the artists he collaborated with include Flugelhorn player Prince Lengoasa, bassist Lex Futshane, saxophonist Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, drummer Sphiwe Shiburi, trumpeter Ndumiso Nyovane and pianist Yonela Mnana.

To make this project accessible to learners from all backgrounds, Mongezi Ntaka has compiled several reading and teaching materials, including books, CDs and DVDs. These materials are selected to make sure that every participant in this program has the necessary resources to learn and perform South African Jazz and Township music. The books include those on the general history of South Africa, the history of South African music, an introduction to South African guitar styles and the South African Jazz Real Book.