Okavango Delta’s Matsaudi village native Mambo Ntema has released a 5th project, a 15track Afro-Jazz album entitled “Back to Our Roots”. The album showcases the artistic versatility, authentic sounds of the traditional drums and folk guitars with harmonics.
The masterpiece begins with ZiNgoma intro that has a trance effect, promoting the traditional drumming of the “river people”, with a ZiNgoma medley to emphasize the ancestral sound with powerful ZiNgoma outro to keep listeners serenaded by the music.
The songs include Back to Our Roots which resonates with taking pride in lineage and kinship, Chobe which promotes the pristine wildlife and the people of the Chobe-Zambezi rivers, Dikgoberego which is a Setswana social commentary on GBV and social ills.
Accoesing to Mambo Ntema, the ThiMbukushu inspired Kuri Ndi Ndi is a folklore that seeks divine intervention of the almighty and village life, and Majakathata is a hustle vibe.
Narrating the country side intimacy, Mmamosadiseopana posits the simplicity of the rural love life. The ThiMbukushu inspired Na Shwena cautions about dishonesty. The Shiyeyi folk poetry inspiration in Ruba Ranga which literally means “my homestead” and in context of the song, it infers to indigenous conservation and co-management of natural resources and wildlife.
The ThiMbukushu song Shamakena gives gratitude to the Hambukushu people whom Ntema grew up with and under in Sedie, as well as friends from the Okavango Delta who have taught him the Thimbukushu language back in the days. The vocals have melodies that give sense to the various subjects addressed through the musically inclined lyricism, effect and reality.
It features the charismatic Shiyeyi muso Thato “Koolkat Motyiko” Kavinja on Mmamosadiseopana part 2. The Subiya Afrobeat sensation Bolton “Iku Oracle” Kakungu is featured on Chobe – which seeks to profile Chobe as a tourist destination of choice as a gateway to Okavango Delta. The two instrumentals for Ruba Ranga and Kuri Ndi Ndi form part of the album to give listeners and AfroJazz enthusiasts a moment to enjoy the sounds and melodies of the live recorded instruments.
The multi-talented artist dedicated the album to all people who embrace Afro-Jazz music in its diverse creativity, and is also ideal for corporate and cultural events as well as cultural tourism entertainment and performances to tourist groups in lodges, hotels and boma.
The multi-award winner has demonstrated a versatile artistry also as a Traditional Percussionist and multi-linguist, promoting the traditional drum as a dominant instrument in the album. The live instruments were programmed by Monyane “Les Quadra” Diane, who is the lead guitarist, bassist and percussionist (kalimba, harmonica, strings, shakers) and Mambo Ntema on the traditional drums and percussions.
The collection was recorded, mixed and mastered by Mogomotsi “Tay Boz” Moshongo at Hash Tag Music. The high-definition music video for Ruba Ranga is also available on YouTube with special appearances by Big Tim Arts, Sheppard and Mafuta, at Kasane Hot Spring monument.
The visuals were documented and edited by Hash Tag Visuals and iChronic Media in Kasane. The album was released on 16th October 2025, and is available for online streaming as well as soft copy folder.
AfroJazz enthusiasts can access Back to Our Roots album digitally on iTunes, Amazon, Apple1 Music, Google Music, Instagram Music, TikTok Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, Spotify2, WhatsApp Music (status), Facebook Music.
A soft copy folder is sold at BWP200, and is ordered via AFRICANITES (PTY) LTD through mambo.bw@gmail.com for more details. The album is registered through the Copyright Society of Botswana (COSBOTS) and shall be launched at a later date.
