The Vhembe-based rock/reggae band, The Natty Lions, led by Nndanduleni Elijah Dombo, also known as “The Lion Poet”, and Ndivhuwo “Zion Teacher” Mulugisi Mamafha, have just been nominated for Best Reggae Song at the 10^th annual South African Upcoming Music Awards (SAUMA). The nomination is for their song “Home Mount Zion”, from their album “Precious Mother”.

Mamafha is from Tshiḽapfeṋe, while Dombo hails from Vuwani. “We are very excited about the nomination and look forward to bringing the award home. As musicians, we work hard and when we get nominated and awarded for our work, we take that as a bonus,” said Dombo.

Dombo said that they had started working on their first project immediately after they had first met. Their first album, “Jah Rastafari”, was released in 2017, followed by the album “Legalize It” in 2018.

In 2019, “Jah Rastafari” was nominated at the SAUMA awards where they won the Best Reggae Song award for the song “Mary My Love” from that album.

In 2020, they released the album, “Huna Ndaḓo Shangoni”. At the eighth SAUMA awards in 2021, they were nominated for their song “Thambulo Yanga”, and in 2022 they were again nominated for their single, “Precious Mother”, from the album “Precious Mother”, released earlier this year (2023).

The Natty Lions’ unique reggae sound, with its rare poetic lyrics, is what earned them their popularity. “We keep getting good feedback from fans, saying that our music is real to life, which only shows that we are on the right track. Our fans love and support us, and that means a lot to us,” said Mamafha.