Nongoma, a name with a prophetic meaning, “Mother of song” (in Zulu). She was named after “KwaNongoma College of Music”, the first music college for Africans in Southern Africa situated in Bulawayo, and also named after “Nongoma”, the royal City of Zululand.

He’s Shining

Her introduction to the world of music was in her mother’s womb. Jabu Zikalala, a singer from eMgungundlovu Pietermaritzburg sang and performed in Nongoma’s father’s band “Children of Nandi”, in Hamburg, Germany, where Nongoma was born. At the age of four, Nongoma wrote her first song fiddling with her father’s bass guitar. From such a young age, one could tell that music was her destiny.

Felon

In 2000, at the age of 11, Nongoma extended her singing talents to the Warner Music production of a Swiss Hip-Hop group “Doppelgaenger.” A year later, together with her two young sisters and childhood friends, she started a girl-band “Day By Day”, in the Zurich suburb of Wollishofen.

With her ability to lead this young band at the age of 12, while writing all the music, arranging the harmonies as well as provided training, Nongoma set high standards from the beginning. The band was later signed to Tonquelle Music, an independent Swiss record label.

At 14, Nongoma sang lead with “Wollishofen”, a renowned Swiss gospel choir. In 2005, she moved back to her roots in South Africa for schooling. She subsequently completed high school at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg in 2007.

As a singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and with Gospel, R&B, Soul, and South African traditional music being her life, Nongoma is striving to make a mark in the music industry. “My influences span from a wide range of musicians, singers and producers of diverse genres which include my parents and my grandmothers. Everyday I ask God to use me and make me an instrument of His peace… conveying a message of hope to the people through song”, says Nongoma.

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