Thandeka Mfinyongo

BIOGRAPHY
Thandeka Mfinyongo is a musician born and raised in Nyanga East, Cape Town (South Africa). Mfinyongo's love and passion for performing arts started at a very young age at church. In 2017, she graduated with a Performer's Diploma in Music; in 2018, she graduated with an Advanced Diploma in African Music from the University of Cape Town. Mfinyongo specialises in two Xhosa instruments, uhadi (gourd/calabash bow) and umrhubhe (mouth-bow). In 2020, she graduated with her Master's in Music Performance at SOAS University of London, majoring in kora (an instrument from West Africa). Mfinyongo is doing her PhD in Ethnomusicology at Rhodes University. She is currently a lecturer in African music at North-West University's music department.
Mfinyongo's musical contributions extend beyond performance; she has collaborated with renowned artists such as the late Dr Madosini and Dumza Maswana. Her dedication and talent have earned her recognition and awards like the Rhodes University Top 100 Award for Arts, Media, Culture & Society. And opportunities to perform at prestigious events like the Joy of Jazz, the National Arts Festival, the Folklore Festival, the Oluzayo Festival, Resonance presented by NewMusicSA, and the South African Strings Foundation. She performed on Make Music Day, a build-up event for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Mfinyongo was one of the five musicians the National Arts Council chose to represent South Africa at the Inaugural Hong Kong Performance Expo, a collaboration with Hong Kong artists in China.
Mfinyongo has a tremendous presence on stage and is an experienced vocalist, uhadi, and umrhubhe player. Mfinyongo is inspired by an older generation of musicians, such as Madosini, whom she spent time with learning and deepening her knowledge.
Continuing to soar in her career, Mfinyongo remains one of the prominent figures in the South African music scene, captivating audiences with her soulful performances and commitment to preserving African musical traditions.