Kwani Experience is a 6-piece band from Johannesburg, South Africa. Gritty yet sophisticated with a distinct edge in their attitude, their messages, their look and their sound. Nominated for the South African Music Awards’ ‘Best Newcomer’ category in 2006, 4 times MetroFM Awards Nominees’ and advocates of the Live Without Fear message and campaign, Kwani Experience are growing from strength to strength.

Trans-lingual, crossover, energetic, entertaining, hip, musical-journey, and motivational are words synonymous to Kwani Experience. The band’s unique and eclectic sound is no less difficult to pigeon-hole and categorize now, as ever, with strong elements of funk, rap, acid jazz, soul, African Indigenous and afro-pop, all coming into play in an exciting and groundbreaking mix, an accessible wall of sound.

Kwani comprises: a soulful lead female vocalist and dancer Nkoto Keitu Malebye, lead rapper and poet, Kwelagobe Po Box Sekele, industrial percussionist and wailer Bafana Nhlapo, drummer Monde Mkhizwana, bassist Frank Magongwa and keyboardist Mahlatse Riba.

In the past five years, Kwani have released two albums, The Birth of the Mudaland Funk and Live After Birth and have since been collaborating with many “big names” such as Sipho Hotsitx Mabuze, Pops Mohammed, South African rappers H.H.P and ProKid and the French DJ/Producer, Oil. Having done a couple of European tours around France, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands (which has become the band’s second home), Bosnia-Herzegovina, along with performances in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, Angola and Cape Verde, Kwani Experience is proving to be one of South Africa’s greatest musical exports.

Aiming to educate, elevate and entertain both young and old, Kwani Experience pays tribute to their legacy and heritage and chants the future. They label their overall style and musical style, “Mudaland Funk”. At first Kwani came out as a deep funky band breaking boundaries but their music is accessible and transcends race, cultures and backgrounds.