Rueben Mbonambi

South African bass Rueben Mbonambi grew up in the KwaZulu‑Natal province. After earning a degree in business administration he turned to singing, studying at the University of Cape Town. In 2021 he joined Cape Town Opera’s Opera LAB and won prizes at the Voices of South Africa and Hans Gabor Belvedere competitions. He has appeared as Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Achilles (La Belle Hélène), the Mayor (Jenůfa) and the Nazarene (Salome). From the 2025/26 season he will be a member of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and will appear at Luzerner Theater in roles including Swallow (Peter Grimes), Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte) and Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore).