Princess Khanysha

Princess Khanysha (born Princess Thandi Tshabangu) is a singer, guitarist, composer, lyricist, writer, actor and director originally from Pretoria.

Khanysha started singing at the age of nine. Her music is a fusion of soul and blues. The development of her love of music is the result of a lifetime of musical influence. Growing up in a family that loves music, she was surrounded by different forms of music from traditional gospel, RNB, maskandi, kwaito, pop and reggae. She used to perform in school concerts. She has worked as an actor and General secretary at New Eersterus Youth Organization (NEYO). NEYO produced a few Theatre plays. In 2007 Princess starred in and wrote music for 'Riffle Roads of Her' a musical play which was chosen as one of the best ten shows nationwide at the Market Theatre’s Zwakala Theatre Festival.

In 2007, Princess got a sponsorship from Letsema La Tsela to study music at MC Art Academy where she majored in theory in music, Accoustic guitar, Piano and Marimba.

Later Princess decided to form a relationship with 'The Living Newspaper' a theatre organization in Soweto. She starred in and wrote music for 'Angel In a Blue Dress' Directed by the Anglo Platinum best youth writer award 2005 winner Themba Mkhoma which took part in the Arts Alive Alternative Spaces, Gauteng Ishashalazi Theatre Festival, Zwakala Festival and was nominated for the Naledi Awards.

In 2012 she played a lead in a musical 'Loyile' which played an extra day due to popular demand in the National Arts Festival. She featured in the play writing segment as an actor on Made In SA Sabc 3. Other productions she starred in include Life Under General, Torture, The conclusion Directed by Themba Mkhoma, Paradise falls, Nakambe directed by Thabiso Rammala and In Her Shoes Directed by Luyanda Sidiya. In 2015 she was employed by The City of Johannesburg as an actor and musician in the Eco mobility industrial play. She also starred in Fresh Footprints, a One-Hander written by internationally acclaimed author Prof.Wale Serote and directed by Olive Tree Theater founder and winner of several awards Ntshieng Mokgoro. In 2018 she starred in and wrote music for a musical Emobeni.

In May 2019 she was featured in Instruction for Playing A Single Note, an experimental musical epic theatre conceptualized and directed by the world renown duo, Joao Renato and Orrechia Zuniga. She also played in William Kentdridge’s VR film and was also part of the performers in Kentridge latest work focusing on merging visual art and live performance. She wrote and scored music for two movies: 'Margarine' written and directed by Thabo Mdhluli and 'Intethelelo' by Sayitsheni Mdaki. She also scored and composed for Bomb Productions Isibaya. In October 2019 she conceptualized and Performed a one hander 'The Stone Crusher' Directed by Phala Ookeditse Phala and choreographed by Thabo Rapoo as part of Season 6 at The Centre For The Less Good Idea. In 2020 she starred in a musical 'Modjadji' that won an...