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The Natty Lions is a roots reggae band led by Elijah Nndanduleni Dombo, also known as The Lion Poet, and Ndivhuwo “Ras Natty” Mulugisi Mamafha.
Natty King is from Vuwani Tshivhazwaulu Ha-Mangilasi and The Lion Poet is from Tshilapfene village. The group was formed after the two artists’ chance meeting with producer Andrew “MC-A” Nkhumeleni, of Unik Prodakshin Studio based in Tshiawelo, Soweto. “We immediately started working on our first project together,” said The Lion Poet. “Our first output came in 2017 with the release of the album titled Jah Rastafarah, followed by another album titled Legalize it in 2018.”
They won the best Reggae Song award for Mary my Love off their album Jah Rastafarah at the sixth Annual South African Upcoming Music Awards (SAUMA). The awards give recognition to excellence in the music industry for upcoming musicians and artists.
Their latest album, titled Huna Ndado Shangoni, was released last year. “They say we are making good music, and that our music is unique compared to other musicians’ as we are producing rare reggae with poetry,” Natty King said. “We continue to get good reports, which shows that we are loved and supported.”
Natty King and The Lion Poet can be reached on Tel 078 520 3127 or 072 691 3890, or [email protected].
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Ndivhuwo “Ras Natty” Mulugisi Mamafha (left) and Elijah Nndanduleni Dombo (right), aka The Lion Poet, of The Natty Lions. Pictures supplied.
By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho
Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.
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