BONGI DUMA
SINGER, SONGWRITER & CHOREOGRAPHER

When Sbongiseni “Bongi” Duma sings, he transports listeners to his birthplace, South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. Bongi is an award-winning composer, singer, actor, recording artist, and music producer, who has performed in the cast of The Lion King since 2001.

Bongi was born in the Umlazi Township outside of Durban, where he grew up singing songs from the Zulu tradition. It was there that he first developed a deep connection to nature, walking in the forest with his late grandfather, a traditional herbalist, collecting medicinal plants.

Throughout his career, Bongi has collaborated with a wide range of celebrated artists and prestigious institutions, including the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall through its Musical Explorers program, and Princeton University Glee Club. He has also performed and recorded alongside renowned musicians such as Miriam Makeba, Angélique Kidjo, Somi (singer), Michael Franti, and Stjepan Hauser of 2Cellos. He has also performed at Westminster Abbey in London for the Queen of England, and worked as a mentor and vocal coach for numerous youth programs in South Africa and the United Kingdom, amongst other accomplishments in his international career.