Nozuko Nguqu

Nozuko Nguqu, born in Lusiki-siki in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, is a multifaceted artist with expertise as an academic musician, creative writer, actress, and dancer.

Trained in Indigenous African Music and Dance (IAMD), she has been involved in numerous local theatrical productions and served as a backing vocalist for prominent South African musicians such as Mfiliseni Magubane (Maskandi), Ilima Band (Contemporary and Afro-Jazz), Matshitshi Ngema (Maskandi), Mduduzi Nyawose (Maskandi-Gospel), and the Umkhumbane Jazz Band, among others. Nguqu’s artistry is deeply shaped by lived experiences rather than formal academic training. She specializes in Indigenous African Music styles, including Maskandi, Umvumo, Ingoma song dances, and playing the Mbira instrument.

Since 2015, Nguqu has worked as a music teacher at the secondary school level in the Umlazi district and has extended her teaching skills to art centers and universities. She has led specialized classes through the Durban BAT Centre’s Arts in Residency (AIR) program and has taught Performance Skills as a practical instructor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. A recipient of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) Maskandi Music and Poetry awards, Nguqu’s influence in the African music scene is significant, with other local artists often re-arranging songs from her studio albums for their own projects. Despite the ongoing evolution of music, Nguqu’s vision remains clear: to preserve and disseminate African indigenous music through her teaching and performances.