UJU

Uju (Zulu for honey) is a South African band which evolved out of “Embryo”, a group of young and earnest artists combined to form a conscientious band of renegade teenagers which formed in 2004. The music was serious and intense with a tinge of accessibility, mixing strong Mbaqanga rhythms with modern Jazz and Hip Hop. Not two years later the group came together under a new banner, Uju. The sober Mbaqanga riffs made way to Jazz and Soul without losing the original edge. Hip Hop was refined and enriched with new live, big band sounds Band members include: Ntuthu Ndlovu, (poet and vocals) and spiritual leader of the band Wandile Molebatsi, djembe Khumo Kganyago, jazz guitar Mosebetsi Nzimande, bass Earl Joseph, rhythm guitar and manager Siyabulela “Sabu” Satsha, drums Lerato Ntsamai, additional vocals. To date Uju has performed at major national music festivals, appeared on numerous television shows and been lauded by both the print and internet media. The band began its gigging career at A Kind of Blue in late 2004 when they unsteadily experimented with the new sound. Since then they have graced the likes of the Blues Room in Sandton on a regular basis and rocked Newtown at all its major venues (Song Writers Club, Horror Café, Shivava Café and The Bassline). All info gleaned from and all credits to their website.