Amampondo

Formed in 1979, Amampondo is a group from South Africa's Eastern Cape (Pondo Land) that started playing Xhosa traditional music, mostly percussion and vocals. Now it has blossomed into one of the most interesting and experimental groups in the country, opening its doors to let in the breezy jazz of Cape Town as well as a variety of other African traditional elements. The result is a remarkable blend of marimbas, drums, horns, piano and layers of male and female vocals. —Courtesy Calabash Music