Nomfusi was born in the township of KwaZakhele in Eastern Cape and grew up with her single mother while her father served a lengthy prison sentence. Her mother, a traditional healer, took Nomfusi to the weekly Sangoma rituals, called "Intlombe," where she quickly developed a love for performing, shaping her artistic identity through hours of singing and dancing. Tragically, Nomfusi lost her mother to HIV at the age of twelve, leaving her orphaned. She and her siblings were taken in by an aunt, who also succumbed to the same illness three years later.
Despite these heavy losses, Nomfusi refused to be defeated. Today, she shines as one of South Africa's brightest stars, inspiring others with her message that "life is about choices" and that "poverty of the mind must be overcome first." Nomfusi actively works to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth in Soweto, Swaziland, and Malawi through outreach in schools, offering the chances she lacked growing up. Recently, she was also appointed ambassador for MES, a nonprofit organization based in Hillbrow that helps homeless individuals rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.
Nomfusi has performed across Europe and Canada at prestigious festivals, including WOMAD, FMM Sines, Lugano Jazz, Stimmen, and Afrikadey, sharing the stage with legends such as Angelique Kidjo, Hugh Masekela, and Lionel Richie.
On stage:
Nomfusi Ngonyama – vocals
Talo Ndou – guitar
John Amoako – keyboards
Klaus Brennsteiner – drums
Lukas Pamminger – bass