Richard Evans on Trumpet with musicians from Amampondo. Amampondo is a South African percussion ensemble that was started by Dizu Plaatjies in Langa, Cape Town in 1979. The name in Mpondo means people of Mpondo or Pondoland, a kingdom in the Eastern Cape where most of the band's members grew up.[2]The other founding members were Simpiwe Matole; Michael Ludonga; Mzwandile Qotoyi; Leo Mbizela and Mandla Lande. National Geographic called them "one of the most interesting and experimental groups in South Africa. Picture from August 2005, where Rob Smith's composition 'The Meeting Place' for Amampondo and Wonderbrass premiered at Brecon International Jazz Festival.