Bongi Ngobeni (21), a multitalented content creator, poet and baker from Marite near Hazyview, has been making waves in the literary world.
She is trending on TikTok with more than 100 000 followers and also has a YouTube channel on which she shares her work.
Born with a passion for words and flour, Ngobeni started her journey at the age of 10, honing her craft from primary school level through performances and Sunday school participation. She is also a self-taught baker.
Drawing inspiration from her parents and role models, she gained confidence and started performing at local events.
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She is now performing in Gauteng, with her talent leading to various interviews on a number of radio stations.
“Since I started doing poetry, many people have requested that I write poems for their loved ones or their parents because my craft is all about making people happy and uniting them. I have gained a lot of popularity among people I don’t even know, but the good thing is that they like my work,” she said.
Ngobeni gained popularity from her two poems titled ‘Xola nhliziyo yami’ (May my heart forgive) and ‘Usheshe wahleka sitha sami’, (You rejoiced early, my enemy) These currently have the most views on all her social media platforms.
“After these two poems, a number of people asked me to do a duet with them. Others requested that I do more and since then, I haven’t stopped. I do my poetry in isiZulu and young and old enjoy it since a number of people are doing theirs in English to accommodate a multiracial audience, while my aim is to embrace the Nguni language,” she said.
Ngobeni added that baking is her other great passion that helps her to relieve stress and generate an extra income.
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“I was watching my mom bake at home, but I never asked her to teach me how. I just decided to take her products and do my own baking with a little bit of help from the internet.
I haven’t stopped since, as some of the people who tasted my baking were begging for more. I took advantage of that and started to bake and sell my products to my neighbours and classmates. Now my dream is to have my own bakery one day,” she said.
Ngobeni is is a qualified electrical engineer and is currently studying computer literacy.
Her poems are available on TikTok and her YouTube channel under the name Imbongikati.
