MOONGA K.

BIO

Moonga Kapambwe, popularly known as MOONGA K. is a Zambian-born, Botswana-raised artist who wraps his diverse palette into a sound that incorporates R&B, funk, soul, hip hop, rock, pop and electronic styles. Now based in South Africa, his musical journey resembles that of his own self-discovery. “I’d like to think my music creates safe spaces for marginalized groups of people,” Moonga says. “I like to be a voice for people that are afraid to speak out, but more so amplifying their voices.” He's collaborated with artists such as Sampa the Great, PHFAT, Zakes Bantwini & Georgel and gone on to release the SAMA-nominated, CANDID, and the dynamic second studio album, GARDEN, which has amassed over half a million streams to date. His music has been featured in the series Queen Sugar and Love Island USA, he's curated a songwriting camp for TuneCore, appeared in the annual GQ music issue & received a second South African Music Award nomination in 2023 in the Best Pop Album category. His music has also received widespread radio playlisting at in Los Angeles, 5FM in South Africa, Reprezent Radio in the UK, and FBi Radio in Australia.

From a firm musical background, Moonga started singing at 6, performing at 9 and was prompted to write after hearing Frank Ocean’s ‘American Wedding’ at age 14. "It all stems from my childhood," he says. "I'm obsessed with sci-fi and the way that we can be whatever want to be in different worlds and universes, so that inspires my big, experimental ideas". With further influences including Prince, Laura Mvula, D’Angelo, Ntozake Shange and Janelle Monáe, Moonga wraps his diverse palette into a sound that incorporates R&B, funk, soul, hip hop, rock, and electronic styles. With 2017’s FREE, 2018‘s debut album WILD SOLACE and 2020's an ode to growth under his belt, Moonga achieved recognition as Apple Music’s New Artist Spotlight and OkayAfrica’s 2018 list of ‘15 Best South African Albums So Far’ and has received high acclaim from publications such as GQ, AFROPUNK, Rolling Stone, Wonderland, The Fader, UPROXX, Red Bull Music, 10and5, Texx And The City and MusicInAfrica. Having whittled out a path for himself in the alternative scene, the 27-year-old artist has graced the stages of Planet Afropunk, Rocking the Daisies, OppiKoppi, Fête de la Musique, Splashy Fen Festival, Afternoon Express, Expresso, and Sofar Sounds.

These performances offer a chance for the artist's creations to interact directly with fans. "As an artist who's put these sounds and words into the music, you always want to feel accepted by the people," he reveals. What captures audiences' ears are Moonga's poignant lyricism, emotive melodies, textured interiority, and authentic social activism. “I think I've always been a vocal person – a fighter and rebel," Moonga shares. "I definitely dive into socio-political issues”. These elements are all present on his EP's, FREE, an ode to growth, CANDID, produced by SAMA-nominee Greg Abrahams (Låpsley, Msaki, Will Linley) and IV and the albums, WILD SOLACE and GARDEN, his most recent release and second album produced by James McMillan AKA quietmoneymusic (Whitney Houston, Sade, Amy Winehouse, Burna Boy, Mahalia) and FDeeZus (AKA, Nasty C, Amanda Black). "Everything I've released continues to be an amalgamation of all the work I've put out and the artist I've become – detailing my experiences being a young black person in this world,” he says.

With a sound as fluid as his identity, Moonga aims to provide the soundtrack to our collective journeys of self-acceptance through his poignant lyricism, emotive melodies, textured interiority, and authentic social activism, while speaking openly about toxic masculinity, racial injustice, love, community and mental well-being, while tapping more into afrofuturist tones. “It's about being somewhat creatively in the future,” he says. “Not being held back by the idea of being the same, sharing identities and standing in your own light.”