Jessica Mbangeni

Jessica Mbangeni is an artist from South Africa. Jessica Mbangeni – AN AFRICAN WOMAN OF ALL SEASONS

(Biography)

It may come as no surprise to those who know a thing or two about African folklore, or for that matter, to those who have witnessed an animated Jessica Mbangeni in full flight as she recites her poetry to awestruck audiences. Running through the veins of this multi-talented imbongi (traditional poet/praise-singer) is nothing short of spirituality.

To her, it is a calling, a way of life beyond the stage or court performance. She is the embodiment of spirituality as she shares experiences with people she engages with, both personally, at theatres or through her social media interactions.

In a very real sense, she is a modern griot with her roots firmly stuck in the rich, dark African soil, yet with branches and leaves flowing all over the Diaspora and the universe. This, taking into account her travels not only in South Africa and the Mother Continent, makes her the roving messenger for a new world order that she has dedicated herself to promoting.

If one subscribes to the notion that spirituality is the essence of concerning oneself with human soul and not mere materialism, one will understand her trajectory. In a world engulfed with physical ills such as COVID-19 and social ills such as rape, femicide and racial hatred, she is pointing humanity to a new order that calls for self-introspection.

‘’We can start with institutions within our reach, such as the church,’’ she says. ‘’We should look at churches as centres of excellence where humanity can be inspired to be more active in changing society.’’

For her, humans can play a more active role in changing society by moving away from the mentality of being oppressed and seek to be their own liberators.

“We need to come together as humanity and embrace our diversity. Strangely, it is incidences such as COVID-19 that bring people together.’’

With her rural upbringing and the challenges that come with such locations in the hinterlands of South Africa – add to that the rollercoaster existence that can define an urban and world experience - she talks and sees the world from a vantage point.

Born and bred in the countryside locality of Nqamakwe in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, she became a domestic worker at the age of 17 and went on to study part-time at the Eastern Cape Technikon. Having dropped out of her tertiary level studies, she packed her bags to seek her fortunes in the glamorous and prosperous city of Johannesburg – a place for whom many a dream has come true.

Her mission was clear: to penetrate the music and arts scene and make a big name for herself while earning a fortune. However, it was not to be as simple as promised. She had to bounce back after many initial trials, to the world of domestic work, this time in the City of Gold,...