Multi-award-winning praise singer Masingita Shibambu, well known as Ntombhi Ya Mutsonga won a SATMA Award for Best Traditional Praise Singer on Saturday in Mbombela.

Ntombhi Ya Mutsonga from Matiyani village in Malamulele in Limpopo is known for SONA2020 Imbongi, the first Tsonga poet to usher the President of South Africa.

She is the founder of NYM Arts Academy, an arts institution aimed at building and nurturing creatives in rural areas.

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She thanked all the people who had taken their precious time and spent airtime voting for her. “I extend my gratitude to all people who utilized their time just to take part in supporting me,” she said. She said she was nominated as best praise singer, and by the grace she won the award.

“As a poet, I drive all my movement to promote arts and cultural identity. It is very important that people start to follow the culture and I want to stand in the gap and inspire especially the young people so that we don’t have to forget where we come from. This award says to me the world is looking at me as the youngest praise singer, and my hard work didn’t vanish into the air. People are really supportive.

“The moment I learnt that I was nominated for the award, I embraced it, and encourage people to vote for me. I never waited for someone to push it, but I did myself. Throughout the journey it was challenging but interesting as well. I have learnt that I have got a family on social media platforms and people who are ready to support each and everything I do,” said Ntombi ya Motsonga.

A BOOK TO COME FOR NTOMBHI YA MUTSONGA FOLLOWING THE SATMA AWARD

She further said that her book is finally done and focuses on Xitsonga culture.

“I am a praise poet who drives all movements to promote arts and culture identity. The book is all about that. I am also going back to the studio to give my people more content because that’s the best I can do. This made me engage in each and every activity at Sunday school, from drama to music, poetry and storytelling.

“This is where I discovered my gift of poetry. In 2014, my first time being on stage in a competition that had more than 500 people. Particularly when I was on stage. I experienced a deep intense feeling and the ancient poetry gushed out words that I never thought resided in me. I obtained the first position and till this day I never looked back. This helped me build my confidence and made me fall more in love with poetry,” she said.

“For me is that wherever you put your mind into the universe is listening. God will give you surely the desire of your heart. I can’t begin to explain how that experience was. But it was really a good one because it opens more doors of opportunity. I believe I am where I am because it played a huge role in me as poet,” she explains.