BANNED FROM THE LAND is a South African music duo from the Eastern Cape, featuring Amandla Akhona and Xhanti Nokwali. Their sound blends indigenous African instruments with vocals, guitar, and alto saxophone, creating a contemporary interpretation of tradition. Drawing from the melodic structures, rhythms, and harmonic textures of the Xhosa Nation, their music fuses classical, jazz, and Afro-soul influences into a distinctive and memorable sound.
Led by band founder Amandla Akhona – a storyteller, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter – the ensemble emerged from a residency in the Karoo, using music as a bridge between ancestral knowledge and modernity. Beyond captivating performances, BANNED FROM THE LAND is committed to artist development and collaboration, and has performed at events including Awakening Social Sessions, Selective Live, Learning Clan Festival, and Soweto’s June 16 Uprising commemoration.