Bonga Kwana announces double release: New Single “LOSE” and fourth edition of “IMIBONGO” concert

Award-winning writer, songwriter, and SAMA-nominated musician Bonga Kwana is set to release their new single, “LOSE,” on Friday, September 26,2025.This deeply spiritual song is a meditation on resilience, faith, and triumph. “In a world full of chaos, clickbait, and an unhealthy obsession with virality, I’d rather lose everything - people, things, you name it - than lose myself,” Kwana shares. “LOSE” was co-written with “Trigger” hitmaker Inga Hina and produced by Guinness World Record holder Drumpope. Kwana describes the song as “an underdog’s flex; the song you sing after winning a battle everyone thought you’d lose. It reflects on the challenges and triumphs of moving to an unfamiliar city to pursue a wild dream, and finding strength to soldier on when expectations fall short.”

A Decade in the Making

The release of “LOSE” coincides with the fourth and most personal edition of Kwana’s acclaimed concert series, IMIBONGO – A Musical Expression of Gratitude. The concert will be staged at Wynberg Girls’ High School in Cape Town, Kwana’s alma mater, where they once led the school choir and jazz band. This homecoming marks a decade since Kwana matriculated with high accolades, including a 2nd place ranking in IsiXhosa FAL. They were also honored with the Cultural Pillar Award for introducing International Cultural Diversity Day, a tradition that continues to promote inclusivity at the school today. “This concert is a deeply personal homecoming, it’s a full-circle moment. The choirs and jazz band that I once led will be playing my music on my stage. If resilience had a soundtrack, it would be IMIBONGO – A Musical Expression of Gratitude. It’s truly a blessing to be backed by the School and my Cape Town community,” Kwana explains.

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More Than a Concert

IMIBONGO is more than a performance; it is a heartfelt celebration of poetry, music, and storytelling, while creating platforms for emerging talent. This year’s edition bridges past and future generations of creatives. Bonga Kwana will perform alongside the Wynberg Girls’ HighSchool Jazz Band and Choirs, and collaborate with local artists including Xola Toto, Chosi, Internet Athi, and Yolanda Pani. Since its inception in 2024, the IMIBONGO series has toured Cape Town, Johannesburg, and

Centane (Eastern Cape), featuring acts such as Bucie, Kemy Chienda, Thandeka Mfinyongo,Digital Sangoma, Onset Music Group, and the late Yallunder, who serenaded audiences at the very first edition on 10 February 2024.

A Rising Force in Music

As an independent, self-managed artist, Kwana has amassed over 1.2 million career streams and collaborated with global and local greats including Yo-Yo Ma, Samthing Soweto, and Zoe Modiga. In 2019, Kwana was selected for the Nando’s Music Exchange in London, ahead of the debut release of Ungazilibali, featuring Msaki, Ami Faku, Zolani Mahola, and Eryn Allen Kane. Since then, their career has taken them from Times Square billboards to the world stage. Their exceptional musicality caught the attention of the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, which invited them to the Young Artist Awards in 2021. In 2022, they were crowned the South African winner of The Mic: Africa, ranking 8th on the continent. Their debut EP New Faces To Old Problems was nominated for Best Afropop Album by the South African Music Awards (SAMA) just 8 months after release, and in the same year, they were invited by Simphiwe Dana to perform their composition Bhongo Lam during Isipaji sikaSimphiwe Dana.

Beyond the Stage

Kwana’s love for the Arts extends far beyond performance. They hold two Music Business qualifications, the latest in Music Publishing through the University of Pretoria and SAMRO’s Music Business Lab. They are also a dedicated mentor to emerging talent, having collaborated with Basha Uhuru, Bridges for Music, and Tunecore as a workshop host and panelist.

EVENT DETAILS:

IMIBONGO – A Musical Expression of Gratitude Date: Friday, September 26, 2025Venue: Wynberg Girls’ High School, Cape Town Featuring: Bonga Kwana, Wynberg Girls’ High School Jazz Band, Choirs, Matriculants, and Guest ArtistsTickets: R80 – R120 on Webtickets