Ntsiki Mazwai

Ntsiki Mazwai, From Mobu, her distinctive line of beadwork, to Wena, her autobiographical poetry collection, from spoken word to spoken music, from producer to bold social activist, from MC to twitterati, Ntsiki Mazwai’s constant underlying theme is courage – courage to speak on controversial issues with almost brutal honesty

In 2003, Ntsiki alongside Lebo Mashile, Myesha Jenkins and Napo Masheane, created the Feelah Sista poetry collective which gave a platform to women’s voices to be heard.As a poet, Ntsiki has performed worldwide at various spoken word festivals in Italy, Jamaica, Tanzania, Belgium, the US, Holland and Zimbabwe and was part of the cast of the ‘Vagina Monologues’. Her poetry anthology ‘Wena’ was published in 2010 it is currently in its second print and has been introduced into the school system.

The incomparable street-queen however entered explosively onto the commercial music scene making a mark with her song ‘uRongo’. Released on DJ Fresh’s Definition of House vol. 3, it went on to become the country’s biggest selling song of 2005.

Ntsiki Mazwai pioneered ‘Spoken Music’ which takes literature to the dance floor and has worked with the cream of the crop of the local house scene e.g. DJ’s Fresh, Glen Lewis, Josi Chave and Mahoota. Having broken through in house, Ntsiki explored different genres and sounds and her debut-album ‘Mamiya’ (SAMA-nominated for best Urban Pop album in 2007), containing jazz, hip hop and soul, is a definite token of her musical diversity, South Africa.