Bonga

Bonga Kwenda, known as Bonga, is an Angolan singer and songwriter from Bengo, Angola. He is associated with afro-jazz, folk, semba and singer-songwriter traditions, and his work is rooted in Angolan folk music and semba.

Early life and athletics

Bonga is born in 1942 in Bengo. He begins singing at 15, then leaves Angola at 23 to become an athlete. In athletics, he becomes the Angolan record holder for the 400 metre dash. He abandons competitive sport in 1972 and focuses entirely on music.

Music career

Bonga sings in Portuguese and in traditional Angolan languages. His recordings combine Portuguese-language folk songs with semba, kizomba and Latin elements. He releases more than 30 albums over the course of his career.

Political context and exile

While Angola is still a Portuguese colony, Bonga is an outspoken supporter of independence. This leads to his exile from Angola in the early 1970s. During that period, he releases his first album, Angola 72.