Love for African Music and Dance Spurs Student on to Graduate

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BA Music graduate Ms Nozuko Nguqu was introduced to music fundamental theory when she attended the Bartel Arts Trust (BAT) Centre’s Live Band Development for Band Leaders event in Durban in 2010. 

Nguqu had always yearned to be music literate and being at the event piqued her interest leading to her enrolling at UKZN and majoring in African Music and Dance (AMD) through the College of Humanities.

She believes the three years at UKZN have helped grow as a musician.  ‘Despite hiccups in the beginning, it’s been a great three years of absorbing all I had been interested in, both theoretically and practically.’ 

She believes compulsory modules for AMD majors are African Music Outreach Music Education and African Music Outreach (AMO), both done in the third and final year of the degree. ‘They equip and prepare students for the outside world. In AMO Music education one is trained to teach music, and in AMD Community Development one gets to know the ins and outs of administrating and organising a big event.’

Nguqu feels her music degree will help her immensely in her future career.

‘I strongly believe that completing the first degree is success on its own. My path is paved and opportunities await me. The journey continues as I now do my postgraduate study.’ 

Nguqu, who hails from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, started her career in music as a backing vocalist for Mfiliseni Magubane, a Maskandi musician, who inspires her music a lot. 

Although she is into jazz and Western classical music, she focuses on African Music and Dance, being involved with many theatrical productions and has performed around South Africa and abroad.  

Nguqu has worked with UKZN’s touring ensemble Ikusasa Lethu, directed by Dr Patricia Opondo.  

Said Dr Opondo: ‘Nozuko joined the University as an accomplished artist. During her audition three years ago, I was impressed by her vocal gifts/talents. My proudest moment was when we examined Nozuko during her final exit Public Recital in November 2014 and saw how she had grown in leaps and bounds and was able to play three African instruments including the Mbira (Zimbabwe) and the Maskandi guitar. She is a refreshing voice in the Maskandi scene. 

‘Look out for her as she begins to embrace international platforms. I feel like the late Busi Mhlongo is reborn in Nozuko. What a gift to the KZN province and South Africa.’ 

Nguqu’s original songs were recorded in 2009 on an album titled: “Mavula-Kuvaliwe”.  

She holds an award from the KZN Provincial Department of Arts and Culture for Best Maskandi Band and also received a Certificate of Merit in every single AMD module she took, which was described by Dr Opondo as ‘a unique milestone, the first time ever in 18 years of the Programme’s existence’. 

As a solo artist, Nguqu has been featured in highly recognised events such as the Annual Woman Power in Music 2014 and UKZN’s Annual African Cultural Calabash 2014. ‘My vision is to see the world being healed, educated, developed and entertained through live music.’ 

She is currently registered for a BA Honours in Applied Ethnomusicology degree and is working at the BAT Centre as a Music Co-ordinator. 

Melissa Mungroo