'The Brother Moves On continue their genre leaping with a studio recording both wildly accomplishes and fuelled by ideological fire.' - JazzWise ★★★★

‘The South African sextet blossom on impressive fourth LP.’ - MOJO ★★★★

The Brother Moves On (TBMO) is a South African performance art ensemble based in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The group was founded between 2008 and 2010 by broad-based artist Nkululeko Mthembu and his brother Siyabonga Mthembu. Beginning as a loose art collective including graphic and performance artists, TBMO is most widely recognised as a band fronted by Siyabonga Mthembu as lead vocalist, with Zelizwe Mthembu on lead guitar, Ayanda Zalekile on bass and Simphiwe Tshabalala on drums.

This core group is regularly joined by a shifting cohort of collaborators and members from various disciplines. The Brother Moves On is known for their multi-disciplinary live shows described as “tradition-trouncing trans-Atlantic Afro-centric futuristically ancient fusion” in which core members and invited performers take on various roles combining storytelling, theatre, drawing, video installation and other experimental media. The current ensemble includes Siyabonga Mthembu, Zelizwe Mthembu, Ayanda Zalekile), Simphiwe Tshabalala, Mthunzi Mvubu (alto saxophone), Mohammed Dawjee (tenor saxophone).

The band also regularly features a variety of musicians from Johannesburg’s live music scene, such as Itai Hakim from the poetry duo Children of the Wind, Malcolm Jiyane from the Malcolm Jiyane tree-oh and Solethu Madasa from the Solethu Madasa quintet.

TOUR DATES: 

24 November 2024 – Barbican – London – UK

‘The rhetoric of South Africa’s liberation struggle echoes across the Johannesburg band’s latest album.’ - Financial Times ★★★★

‘The Brother Moves On have created an album of incredible diversity and creativity that feels uplifting and inspirational.’ - Louder Than War ★★★★

'Protest albums don't come more subtle and moving than this.' - New Internationalist ★★★★