Bongi entertains at The Festival

The multi-talented MC is also a singer, keyboard player, entertainer, actor, pianist and more.

“I love entertaining people with all my heart,” he said.

“If I had it my way I would be on stage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Bongi, as he is affectionately known, is the last born of four children and was raised in Tembisa.

“My mom lost her job when I was in Grade Six and things got tough at home,” he said.

“She tried to make means and ways for me to get to school.

“She is a strong and hard praying woman who raised four children on her own.”

In matric, he worked as a salesman for the toys and glowing accessories stall at the Rand Easter Show to help his mother financially.

It was here he met the man who owned the music stall and who noticed his talent.

“He then started a corporate band where I was the pianist and backing vocalist, as well as the male lead singer,” Bongi said.

When that ended, he became a taxi driver, then worked in a studio called Lemon Jack, in Centurion, while playing in a band called Lemon Grass.

However, his career took a leap when he entered SA Idols Season Six in 2010.

“After I was voted out I was determined to make that opportunity the starting point towards my dreams and goals,” he said.

And he did.

“I had the opportunity to work with all the great artists, bands and big names in the African music industry,” he said.

One such band is Joyous Celebration, which he joined last year.

“I got my first ever lead role in a theatre musical (pantomime) called Cinderella,” Bongi said.

“I was then cast for other theatre productions and musicals, such as Jack and the Beanstalk (as Jack), Peter Pan (Smee), Aladdin (Wishee Washee), and Starlight Express (as Poppa McCoy).”

Bongi tries to include various South African languages in his music, to relate to all kinds of people.

“Like Afrikaans, seSotho, isiZulu, isiXhosa and English,” he said.

“I put a lot of emotion into my performances, as well as energy, because I want people to experience what I am going through on stage.”

Tickets for the festival happening on May 7 are still available from St Dunstan’s College and Preparatory School, Wakaberry Oakfields, Harvey World Travel Benoni, RED Boutique (Sheridan Street) in Farrarmere, the Benoni City Times offices and Cynammon Boutique in Northmead Square.

Emails can also be sent to events@stationroad.co.za, to reserve tickets.

Artists who will also perform at the festival are Voltrex, Johnny Apple, Gangs of Ballet, Moloi.Hesse Band, Chunda Munki, Timo ODV, DJ Fresh and Desmond and the Tutus.

Also read: Voltrex gives a taste of The Festival