Nomcebo Zikode

Instrumental in making the world dance while they were down.

Many people reckon that success happens overnight, or that it only comes to those who are in the right place at the right time. While this might be true for some, Nomcebo Zikode’s story is different. The singer-songwriter might have been in the right place at the right time, but had she not experienced some hardships and had she not believed in herself and a higher Power, things could have turned out differently.

IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING

As we sat down for the interview, one thing was certain: This is just the beginning for Nomcebo Zikode. We met at a property that she and her husband, Selwyn Fraser (who is also her manager) are currently transforming into a space for their company, Emazulwini Productions. Her studio is already based on the premises and evidently, Emazulwini Productions will be producing and releasing not only hers, but various other artists’ music. “I am hoping that people will appreciate what we will be doing and that they will receive our artists with open arms,” she says.

Nomcebo, who wrote the song, Jerusalema in collaboration with Master KG, grew up in a small KwaZulu-Natal township called Hammarsdale. Remembering her childhood, she says: “I was a happy child. I really was… I loved singing. I remember singing and my neighbours would be like, ‘hah, you are making noise!’ I would shut up for that few seconds, but I would start singing again. Not because I was disrespectful; it happened automatically. I had so much love for music.”

One can only imagine how big a part music must have played in her life, carrying her through trying times. Nomcebo’s father passed away when her mother was still pregnant with her and “growing up, it wasn’t easy at all.” Still, through hardships, her mother was adamant about continuing to take them to school – whether it was without shoes or with a torn shirt. “What is important is that she did take us to school, as hard as it was,” Nomcebo says.

Nomcebo means wealthy in Zulu and clearly – even through trials and tribulations – she’s been living up to her name, owning it. “I don’t know what my mom was trying to do, because at that time when she gave birth to me, there was no money at all. Everything was just a mess. We were not well financially.” When she asked her mother why she decided to give her a name that it’s a testimony. Other people need to learn from my story. They need to know that it is possible, no matter where you come from. You just need to focus; believe in your talent. As hard as it is sometimes, you can become the person that you want to become. We mustn’t see things and think that they are what was happening. This was my time. After fifteen years of being a backing singer, I’ve been wanting to do this so badly. This was my time to travel the world, go all over, sing to people, enjoy my life and my singing career. It was so terrible.” means wealth, she said: “I wanted to give you a name that would follow you. I wanted to be positive about the situation. As hard as it is today, it won’t be like this forever.” Her mother believed that things would get better and that her child will one day deliver her from poverty. Today, Nomcebo has managed to build her mother a beautiful house in Hammarsdale and she is building her business; her empire, one step at a time.

What she did not realise, was that Jerusalema had been released at exactly the right time, lifting people from all over the world up and giving them hope amidst a very uncertain time.

A Success Story Worth Telling

The now mom of two is not shy to tell people where she comes from. “I believe meant only for specific people and not for you because you’re not a black-born person. There are so many things that can make you lose hope or look down on yourself.”

Nomcebo likes to focus on the positives. While her journey came with many challenges, she believes these challenges are what shaped her into the strong and successful woman and artist she is today.

“I really believe that I am a strong woman today because of what I’ve been through.”

After matriculating, Nomcebo travelled to Joburg to audition at a radio station. She immediately made her mark and although they did not end up using her voice for radio, she became a backing vocalist for big artists like Lundi Tyamara, Deborah Fraser, Zahara, Nhlanhla Nciza and more.

“When you are in that environment, you get to meet other great musicians,” she says. “I met up with DJ Ganyani and we did a song together called Emazulwini. The song went very, very big. In a way that it also reached our neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe, Lesotho. They know the song.” It was after the success of Emazulwini that Open Mic phoned her up, asking if she was signed with anyone. Soon, she was signed with Open Mic and she did not release any songs up until the day of “the biggest song ever”Jerusalema.

In the explosive, now world-famous song Jerusalema, Nomcebo asks God to guide her to a place where she can find peace. Many think she wrote the song during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it was actually written pre-Covid-19 when she was struggling with depression.

A Spanner In The Wheels

Nomcebo was so happy when the song was released, only to find that the Covid-19 pandemic might bring all of this excitement to a hasty halt. “I was praying, asking God

When Nomcebo heard the news that Jerusalema was doing so well, she could hardly believe it. There were many mixed emotions involved, from shock and surprise to disbelief. “I felt like: ‘Am I dreaming? It can’t be me?’… I don’t really understand how I wrote this song,” she says. “It was so big. Sometimes – even today – I would look at myself and think: ‘Is this really me? Someone, wake me up!’”

A Beautiful Journey Right Up To The Grammies

This year, things got even bigger. According to Nomcebo, Wouter Kellerman had been wanting to do a song with her for a long time. After tracking her down with the help of Zakes Bantwini, the three of them collaborated on a song called Bayethe, which eventually got nominated for a Grammy Award under the category: Best Global Music Performance.

Like many of us, even Nomcebo Zikode has days where she doubts herself. “I was so happy! But I didn’t think we were going to take it.” When Zakes Bantwini and Wouter Kellerman phoned her with the news that they had been nominated for a Grammy Award, Nomcebo was in Nice, France. “It was as if we won! For me, to be nominated already was a win.”

The trio went to the Grammies in person earlier this year and got to bring the award home. “Those are big artists,” she plays herself down. Thanks to Gert-Johan Coetzee and his beautifully designed and noticeable dress that she got to wear, Nomcebo shined on the red carpet. In fact, many instantly recognised her, linking her to the famous Jerusalema.

In addition to their recent Grammy Award, as well as her Top Entertainer Award by Forbes Women Africa, Nomcebo says that to see people from all over the world dance to Jerusalema despite their culture; their colour, is one of her biggest career highlights to date. “To be able to write a big song like that in my own language - one that is loved not by my country alone, but by the whole world - means a lot to me.”

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN, PROUDLY ZULU

Nomcebo loves writing in her own language. “I am really comfortable in my language,” says the Zulu singer. “I am happy that I’ve managed to cross over without singing English or any foreign language. It shows other people who are under pressure that for you to make it, you don’t have to sing in another language… When I am singing in my own language, I can express my feelings in a beautiful way.” This is evident in how people who don’t even understand Zulu connect with her music and her songs. “They can feel it comes from the heart.”

Nomcebo’s music is universal and that is what people love about it. It brings cultures together - not only in South Africa, but globally.

@nomcebo_zikode