Bavikile ‘MaBhengu’ Ngema

Bavikile ‘MaBhengu’ Ngema was born in 1951 in the Nkandla district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A prolific composer and virtuoso player on umakhweyana and umqangala (umbheleza) Nguni musical bows, she also performs on harmonica and indigenous harp. Bavikile learnt to play these instruments by watching and imitating her sisters and cousins. Her unique umakhweyana playing technique elicits a fourth fundamental note from the single-stringed instrument. She has over the years perfected the art and science of umakhweyana making. She’s able to uproot the pros and cons of which materials to use for the required sound and occasion of her instrument. Being a custodian of umakhweyana, she has also been a scholars’ subject of research over the years.