Made up of DJ/producer Robert Bongani Mohosana and percussionist Thabo Smol Mabogwane, the pair collaborated in the town of Soshanguve, north of Pretoria. Both musicians came of age during the house music boom of the '90s and when they formed Black Motion in 2010, their aim was to infuse it with a more regional identity. Embracing native drums and other instrumentation, they also made use of guest vocalists singing not only in English, but in indigenous languages like Zulu and Tsonga. They found early success with songs like "Banane Mavoko" and "Set Me Free," both of which ended up on their 2011 debut album, Talking to the Drums. A follow-up album, Aquarian Drums, arrived in 2012 and over the next few years, Black Motion began making appearances internationally from Europe to North America, attracting new audiences with their dynamic live shows. Following 2014's gold-selling Fortune Teller album, they earned widespread critical acclaim for 2016's Ya Badimo which won them a South African Music Award and featured guests like Tlokwe Sehume, Wunmi, and Simphiwe Dana. 2018's Moya Wa Taola was another wide-ranging album with unique rhythms and instrumentation and numerous collaborators like Caiiro and Nokwazi. The duo spent the following year releasing singles like "Joy Joy" featuring Brenden Praise and "Everything" featuring Mo-T. ~ Timothy Monger, Rovi