N’Gatu

N’Gatu (real name Ngatukondje Nganjone) was born in Zambia on 18 September 1975 to Herero and Owambo parents, refugees from Namibia. Growing up, his family moved a lot between Zambia and Angola. In 1990 they returned to Namibia and he started playing the guitar at Putwavanga School in Opuwo. He formed his first band with his schoolmates. Their first public performance was in March 1994 at their school's independence celebrations.

In 1998, N’Gatu started to compose and write his own songs. On 1 May 2003, he released his debut album, ‘The Biggest Gift’. In 2005, he participated at the prestigious annual Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2005, he joined the Formula Band, which is known in Namibian music circles for playing Shambo (or Shumbo), a traditional music from northern Namibia found among the Owambo tribe. He describes his music as a fusion of Shambo, reggae and other African styles.