Mthabisi Tshuma [email protected]
Culturalist Thamsanqa Nkomo is set to celebrate his 43rd birthday through a massive bash dubbed Inkunzi Ye Brahman, a platform which has been curated to promote unity, and uplifting local artistes, particularly those in Maskandi, Gospel, Imbube, and traditional poetry.
The event will be held at Hope City on October 24, from 2pm to 10pm, under the theme, “Ziyakhala Ke Manje!”
The show will feature a line-up of local artistes, including Msheli Wentombi, Great Stars Ijongosi, Collen Moyo, UJamela, Gazelimnyama, Maqhuzu, Zwelihle Jele, Lady P, Mbulazi the Love Poet, Inkunzi ka Mabhedla and Ndwangu Enkulu, among others.
Nkomo said the name Inkunzi Ye Brahman carries deep personal and cultural significance, reflecting his identity, family heritage and ambition to build a platform that benefits the wider creative community.
“The name Inkunzi Ye Brahman has a very personal meaning to me. Firstly, it is connected to my surname, Nkomo, which means cattle or cow in isiNdebele. As a man carrying the Nkomo surname,
I wanted a name that would reflect my identity. Naturally, I associated myself with inkunzi, a bull, which represents strength, leadership and authority.
“For me, it symbolises intelligence, strength, smartness and a clean, impressive appearance. There is also a family legacy. My grandfather was known as the White Bull because of his smartness and light complexion. That family history makes the name more meaningful to me because it connects my identity today with the legacy of the generation that came before me,” he said.
Nkomo said the brand was more than entertainment, describing it as a vehicle for collective growth and the development of local talent.
“It represents strength, leadership, identity and the determination to build something strong and meaningful. It reflects the strength and potential that I believe our local artistes possess.
“I am not choosing artistes because they are already famous. I am interested in their potential, their willingness to work together and their commitment to growing professionally. We should not wait for artistes to become big before we support them. Sometimes, we have to support them while they are still building their names. If we grow together, we can create opportunities that benefit everyone,” he said.
Nkomo said his long-term vision was to establish a platform where artistes could collaborate, preserve cultural traditions and build sustainable careers.
“My vision is to create a platform where local artistes can work together, support one another, develop their talents and build sustainable careers. I also want to preserve our culture, particularly
Maskandi, gospel, imbube and our traditional storytelling through izimbongi, so that the next generation can inherit it.
“I believe unity cannot be achieved through words alone; it must be demonstrated through practical action. Where misunderstandings arise, I believe they should be addressed through respectful dialogue rather than gossip or public attacks. One artiste’s success should not be viewed as another artiste’s failure. If one of our artistes grows, that success can open doors for others,” he said.
Asked why he was investing his own money and time in other artistes at the age of 43, Nkomo said life had taught him that success was more than an individual’s achievement.
“At 43, life has taught me that success is not only about what you achieve as an individual, but also about what you help others to achieve. Sometimes, the greatest legacy you can leave is not a personal achievement, but an opportunity you created for someone else.
“I have learnt that talent is important, but talent without discipline, consistency, teamwork and proper management can struggle to reach its full potential. Success will also be measured by what we learn, the relationships we strengthen and the opportunities we create for artistes,” he said.
Looking ahead to the first six months of the initiative, Nkomo said he hoped to establish a more organised and sustainable platform, supported by stronger partnerships with sponsors, joint promotional efforts and wider audiences for participating artistes, while ensuring they received fair rewards for their work.
“I cannot promise overnight success, but I can promise that I am approaching this journey with a clear vision and a willingness to learn, improve and work consistently towards it.
“My courage comes from my belief in the potential of our local artistes and the conviction that somebody has to be willing to take the first step. If we wait until everything is perfect before we start, we may never start at all. Six months from now, I hope everyone will look back at this birthday not as a party, but as the foundation of something that keeps growing,” he said.
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