Thandeka Mfinyongo

Thandeka Mfinyongo
Thandeka Mfinyongo
Born	June 24, 1986 (age 38); Nyanga East, Cape Town, South Africa
Genres	African indigenous music
Occupation(s)	Musician, Lecturer
Instrument(s)	Uhadi, Umrhubhe, Kora
Years active	2008–present

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Thandeka Mfinyongo (born 24 June 1986) is a South African musician and academic specializing in the preservation and performance of indigenous African instruments. Mfinyongo is known for her mastery of the Xhosa instruments, uhadi (gourd bow) and umrhubhe (mouth bow), as well as her work on the West African kora. She currently serves as a lecturer in African music at North-West University and is pursuing a PhD in Ethnomusicology at Rhodes University.

Early life and education

Mfinyongo was born in Nyanga East, Cape Town and is the firstborn of four children. She spent part of her early childhood in her mother’s village, Maqanda, in Ngcobo, and later in her father’s village, Ntlalontle, in Lady Frere, where she completed her primary education. In 1997, she returned to Cape Town, continuing her Junior secondary schooling and became involved in the performing arts, joining her church choir.

After graduating high school in 2004, Mfinyongo worked as a teaching assistant at Linge Primary School while studying Early Childhood Development at the College of Cape Town, an initiative of the Department of Education, from which she graduated in 2010. In 2011, she worked at Little Greenies Daycare as a grade R teacher, and in 2012, she briefly studied at the Cape Town Music Institute before financial difficulties led her to pursue music education through community music school, Ntonga which was situated in Gugulethu townhsip.

In 2014, she enrolled in African Music at the University of Cape Town (UCT), earning a Performer’s Diploma in Music (2017) and an Advanced Diploma in African Music (2018). In 2020, Mfinyongo completed her Master’s degree in Music Performance at SOAS University of London, with a focus on the kora. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Rhodes University.

Musical career

Mfinyongo has performed on numerous stages, including the Baxter Theatre and ArtsCape in Cape Town. In 2008, she joined the Rainbow Arts Organisation and later sang with His Favour Gospel choir, contributing to their 2013 album. She also performed at the Zabalaza Festival and the June 16 musical production at ArtsCape in 2013. In 2016, Mfinyongo co-founded the group Azanian Aesthetics.

In 2018, she released her debut single, "Wenza Ngabom", and performed alongside the legendary Dr. Madosini and singer Msaki at the event *At the Feet of a Living Archive*. Mfinyongo’s collaborations also include work with acclaimed South African artists like Dumza Maswana. She has made television appearances, including performing on the show Hectic99and Expresso on SABC 3.

Her international performances include the Global LBQ Conference in 2019, the South African Embassy event in London, and virtual concerts during the COVID-19 pandemic for audiences in India and around the world. She has performed at notable festivals such as the Folklore Festival, the Oluzayo Festival, and Resonance, presented by NewMusicSA and the South African Strings Foundation. Mfinyongo is recognized for her powerful stage presence and is celebrated as both an accomplished vocalist and a skilled player of the uhadi and umrhubhe.

She draws inspiration from an older generation of musicians, particularly Dr. Madosini, with whom she spent time learning and deepening her knowledge of traditional Xhosa music. In 2022, she completed a national tour with her Ingoduko* project, supported by the National Arts Council. In 2023, Mfinyongo and her friend John Atterbury released two songs, "Ikhaya Lam" and Ndinendawo Yam" featuring Jali Bakary Konteh under the name, Abahambi.

Achievements

Mfinyongo has been awarded the Rhodes University Top 100 Award for Arts, Media, Culture & Society. In 2024, she was selected for the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence: Artist Residency Program at the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies, Germany. She is scheduled to perform at the Journey of Discovery concert in Hong Kong in October 2024 National Arts Council in collaboration with Hong Kong. She continues to be a leading figure in South African music, captivating audiences with her soulful performances and dedication to preserving indigenous musical traditions.