Mato nanji biography of abraham lincoln
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Mato's father, the late Greg Zephier, Sr., was a well-known and highly respected spiritual advisor and spokesperson for the International Indian Treaty Council. “Our people have lived that story for generations.”
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The Global Revival of Indigenous Music in 2026
Overview Table: Indigenous and Mato Nanji’s Career Highlights
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist Name | Mato Nanji |
| Band | Indigenous |
| Origin | Yankton Sioux Reservation, South Dakota, USA |
| Genre | Blues Rock, Roots Rock |
| Active Years | 1998 – Present |
| Notable Albums | Things We Do (1998), Circle (2000), Time Is Coming (2014), Gray Skies (2022) |
| Influences | Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, B.B.
King, Jimi Hendrix |
| Signature Sound | Emotional solos, melodic phrasing, narrative-driven songwriting |
The Musical DNA of Indigenous
From their debut Things We Do in 1998 to the more recent Gray Skies in 2022, Indigenous has showcased Nanji’s evolving musicianship.
I just felt it was time to pay tribute to him and his band,” says Nanji. Sadly, Mr. Zephier would pass away before seeing his children receive this great honor.
With momentum gaining, Indigenous’ 2000 sophomore release, Circle, was produced and arranged by Stevie Ray Vaughan’s longtime friend and collaborator, the late Doyle Bramhall, Sr.
Three more cds; Fistful of Dirt (2002), Indigenous (2003) and Long Way Home (2005) would follow before the 2006 decision by the siblings to ‘disband’ and pursue their own musical paths but Mato carried on with the Indigenous band name. Lead guitarist Levi, with his natural born talent, slid across the stage with power chords and screaming blues that amazed the packed crowd.
He was just 13 years old.
In the years to follow, Levi, along with his cousins Douglas Platero on drums and Bronson Begay on bass would receive numerous nominations for native music and video awards, and their cd Hang On would take home a win for Best Blues Album at the 2009 New Mexico Music Awards.
In 2012, they joined Indigenous for The Kinship Tour, with The Plateros opening the double bill.
With the experience, love and wisdom of their father to guide them, Mato, his brother, sister and cousin formed the band Indigenous while in their late teens.
After much time invested in practicing and building a following, they began touring extensively across the country. Now family and its meaning is not as strong as it used to be for our people…almost non-existent.
Their music often pairs soulful guitar lines with socially conscious lyrics, blending rock power and introspective storytelling.
According to Blues Review editor Carla Mason, “Nanji doesn’t imitate the blues — he internalizes it. In addition to this leadership role, he was an accomplished musician and a member of the musical group, The Vanishing Americans.
In 1998, they released their award winning debut album Things We Do. “Come on Home” was also featured on FX’s Sons of Anarchy.
On 2008’s Broken Lands, an intensely personal record, Mato and Leah, his lyricist and wife, pay tribute to his Native heritage. Playing alongside original Jimi Hendrix band members Billy Cox and the late Mitch Mitchell, the tour roster includes some of today’s blues greats including Buddy Guy, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (Double Trouble), Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, and Robert Randolph.
Once the 2012 Experience Hendrix Tour concluded, Mato and fellow EHT tour mates David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars) would collaborate and release the hard-driving, psychedelic blues-infused 3 Skulls and the Truth (Blues Bureau International) disc.
Playing alongside original Jimi Hendrix band members Billy Cox and the late Mitch Mitchell, the tour roster includes some of today's blues greats including Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (Double Trouble), Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, and Robert Randolph.
Following their 2012 Experience Hendrix Tour, Nanji collaborated with two of his fellow EHT band mates, David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), delivering the hard-driving, blues-infused 3 Skulls and the Truth.
With each new tour, national and international, Mato and the boys continue to attract new audiences and expand the fan base.
Mato Nanji is scheduled to perform on the following 27 dates during the 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour:
(click dates for more information)
- ~ Tue, Mar 11, 2025
- ~ Wed, Mar 12, 2025
- ~ Thu, Mar 13, 2025
- ~ Fri, Mar 14, 2025
- ~ Sat, Mar 15, 2025
- ~ Tue, Mar 18, 2025
- ~ Wed, Mar 19, 2025
- ~ Thu, Mar 20, 2025
- ~ Fri, Mar 21, 2025
- ~ Sat, Mar 22, 2025
- ~ Sun, Mar 23, 2025
- ~ Tue, Mar 25, 2025
- ~ Thu, Mar 27, 2025
- ~ Fri, Mar 28, 2025
- ~ Sat, Mar 29, 2025
- ~ Sun, Mar 30, 2025
- ~ Tue, Apr 1, 2025
- ~ Wed, Apr 2, 2025
- ~ Thu, Apr 3, 2025
- ~ Fri, Apr 4, 2025
- ~ Sat, Apr 5, 2025
- ~ Sun, Apr 6, 2025
- ~ Tue, Apr 8, 2025
- ~ Wed, Apr 9, 2025
- ~ Thu, Apr 10, 2025
- ~ Fri, Apr 11, 2025
- ~ Sat, Apr 12, 2025
- Cincinnati, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Greensburg, PA
- Northfield, OH
- Toronto, ON
- Waukee, IA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Indianapolis, IN
- Chicago, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Buffalo, NY
- Syracuse, NY
- Lynn, MA
- Westbury, NY
- Wallingford, CT
- Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Red Bank, NJ
- Morristown, NJ
- Hampton Beach, NH
- Atlantic City, NJ
- Washington, DC
- Durham, NC
- North Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Knoxville, TN
- Greenville, SC
- Atlanta, GA
Indigenous front man, Mato Nanji, was born and raised on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.
Indigenous’s latest projects also explore cross-genre influences, incorporating roots and Americana elements without abandoning their blues foundation.
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Music critic Rafael Gomez remarks, “Nanji’s current live shows feel both timeless and urgent — they remind you why blues rock matters.”
Comparison: Indigenous vs.
Nanji has toured with Jonny Lang and performed in the Experience Hendrix Tour, honoring the music of Jimi Hendrix.
How does Nanji incorporate Native heritage into his music?
Through lyrical themes of unity, resilience, and identity, as well as rhythmic influences drawn from traditional tribal patterns.
What can fans expect from Mato Nanji in 2026?
Fans can look forward to a mix of new recordings and live performances celebrating the fusion of heritage and blues revivalism.
Who would’ve known that a blues band from South Dakota would unite audiences -young and old- in the middle of downtown Lincoln.
I feel our families’ “Tiospaye” are the core of what makes us who we are. They would join Mato for blistering encores that would bring the proverbial house down.
Touring in support of Time Is Coming in the summer of 2014, Mato Nanji would once again call on Levi, Douglas and Bronson to hit the road with him. Of the song says Nanji; “still to this day, the struggle continues to just live in peace.
Other Modern Blues ActsArtist Key Strength Style Legacy Impact Mato Nanji / Indigenous Cultural storytelling through blues Native American blues rock fusion Revived traditional blues for modern listeners Gary Clark Jr. Fusion of blues, R&B, and funk Urban Texas blues Mainstream crossover success Joe Bonamassa Technical guitar precision Classic British blues influence Expanded global blues audience Shemekia Copeland Soulful vocal delivery Blues and gospel fusion Brought emotional depth to modern blues vocals
Why It Matters: The Cultural Power of Blues Revival?
The revival of authentic blues rock through artists like Mato Nanji signifies more than musical nostalgia — it’s a reclamation of voice.
Blending traditional blues energy with contemporary grit, Nanji has revitalized the genre, inspiring a new generation of guitarists and songwriters to return to the roots of authentic expression.
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Music historian Daniel Thompson calls Nanji “one of the few artists today channeling the emotional purity of the blues masters while giving it a 21st-century edge.”
The Legacy of Mato Nanji: Bridging Tradition and Modern Sound
Born and raised on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota, Nanji’s exposure to blues came through his father, Greg Zephier Sr., who performed in local bands during the 1960s and 1970s.
It was easy, and even felt natural to make eye contact with other members of the crowd and nod in agreement that this music was in fact amazing.
The title track’s video, directed by Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals), won the American Indian Film Festival Award and was shown at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.