Ntsikelelo Colossa (34) also known as Ntsika Rise is a South African singer, actor, traditional doctor, record label owner, and entrepreneur.
Colossa lives in Alex but grew up on the streets of Virginia in the Free State selling vegetables and during school hours he would sell sweets to survive since his father was in Gauteng.
He grew up in a family where he had to become a man at a very young age. He did not play with other children because he had to work so that he could provide for his younger siblings and his mother who didn’t earn much as a domestic worker.
”As a young boy I missed playing with other kids on the streets because I had to learn how to hustle,” he said. “I had to take piece jobs from my neighbours to at least have money to buy maize meal, and at some point, I was even a street vendor.
“I couldn’t even cry from all the pain that poverty has brought to my life because we were taught that a boy does not cry.”
When he and his family relocated to Welkom, that’s when he discovered he could sing. He attended Lehakwe Primary School and was asked to sing with the girls because he had a soft voice.
Colossa said when he was in Grade 10, he would always fantasise about becoming an accountant but after moving to Gauteng he decided that a singing career would be best for him.
“I went to Soweto to fulfill my dream as a singer, but growing up I always wanted to be an accountant but money was the problem and I knew nothing about bursaries and financial aids.
“I started doing painting projects and it made me some income which I used to study drama at Thuthuka Casting Agency. I was kicking every door down to achieve my dreams.”
He said he became tired of attending auditions so he started an entertainment company, Ntsika Rise Media, and released his debut album Uthando.
Colossa has shared the stage with the likes of Zonke Dikana, Zarah, Lira, Mi Casa, Sjava, Amanda Black, Kedibone Mulaudzi, Elton Mduduzi and Tumelo Enoch Matila. He said performing with those big names was a big achievement and also a blessing for him.
Colossa said for him success in music was ‘when someone relates to your music then you are successful, it could be one person or thousands of people.
He concluded by telling Alex News that he was currently promoting his latest single Hikutwanana which he could not promote last year because of the lockdown.
