“It Had My Name Written All Over It” ~ Mmangi

To many people in this city, the name “Mmangaliso” rings all kinds of bells: church bells, vocal bells, friendly bells, personal bells. And, unlike some unsaved claims some among us make about famous people, the feeling between residents of the city and her is reciprocal—she holds this space in very high regard just as the people too view her as one of their own.

Mmangaliso Vena, who has left her vocal prints on premium stages like Macufe, regards Mangaung as a melting pot that stewed her musical identity throughout the years she spent here. She comments: “I always say Bloem is what made me an artist. I was always musical but my hometown [Ladysmith] didn’t have the platforms that Bloemfontein had. That’s where I saw how possible it is to work in the arts.”

The city’s musical impact on Mmangaliso was so strong she wound up taking a gap year to run from auditions to rehearsals, in pursuit of a glorious moment that would catapult her to the world of her dreams. It was in that season of showing up that Mmangaliso impressed the Idols adjudication panels, ultimately capturing the nation’s heart with her electric performances on the singing competition’s glamorous stage.

There, she exhibited her artistic fluidity as she crisscrossed different genres. And when the doors of Idols slammed on her in the final stages, the spirited Mmangaliso took it as a challenge to press in harder.

That Mmangaliso has dazzled the whole country on one of the grandest platforms in SA showbiz has never meant any other talent search is lesser. “One thing about me,” she has written elsewhere, “I will enter competitions.” And all competitions rank equally to her, insofar as they allow her to claim her space in the industry. For this reason, when gospel music maverick, Nqubeko Mbatha, announced his talent search competition on Instagram, everything about it “felt like the right time” to Mmangaliso.

“I felt a big nod that I kind of needed in the space that I’m in. I had spent some time working as a BV and vocal director in the secular space and felt the urge to go fully into the gospel space again as a solo artist,” she tells Art State, adding, “Being selected by [Nqubeko] Mbatha and his team was a ‘sign of confirmation’ I’ve been asking for from God, really.”

Mmangaliso, known for being a riveting worship leader in church and related spaces, says she entered the #NqbkTalentSearch with her eyes on the prize. “I felt like it had my name written all over it,” she declares, revealing that she had been praying for a transition from music in general to gospel in particular. Still, everything happened so fast, no sooner had she been named the winner than she found herself on the massive stage of The United Tour.

The Tour was held on the 24^th of June at Hope Restoration Ministries, Gauteng, and featured former Idols SA winner and pastor, Khaya Mthethwa, The Jesus Collective, Ayanda, Ntokozo and Nqubeko. “Surreal” is how Mmangaliso describes being featured on the Tour’s appetising lineup. She illustrates: “In my head, I felt there were certain processes I had to go through before getting to perform at that kind of stage. It was a beautiful time. The highest level of professionalism that I aspire to was displayed on that Tour. It’s an experience I’m grateful for.”

Though Mmangaliso has demonstrated beyond doubt that she’s an all-rounded vocalist (she has even done a song with dance music producer CwengaBass), she also knew that at some point she would have to develop creative boundaries and define who she is musically. To this effect, she describes her brand as a blend of urban-contemporary worship and “isitende”, a unique selling point best personified by sandwiching Mnqobi Nxumalo and Andile ka Majola.

Mmangaliso outlines: “They are people who write music that can appeal to both the crowds I’ve mentioned. Growing up and being in the industry for a while, I felt that there weren’t any vernac songs that were rich in their lyrics like the likes of Hillsong and Elevation Worship. I believe that’s what I bring. Worship that is not only musically pleasing but filled with the Word.”

And so it is that whosoever still dreams of featuring Mmangaliso on any other beat that’s not some raucous ‘indumiso yes’tende’ strings bellowing “sidlul’ ezintweni” must wake up. Now more than ever, she’s sold out completely to becoming a vessel of worship, even though she’s still open to writing songs for other non-religious artists. “Not to sound too spiritual,” the pastor’s wife puts up a disclaimer, “but being in the gospel space was something I was running away from for some time, and I felt God pushing me more into gospel.”

Though details of what winning the #NqbkTalentSearch holds for Mmangaliso are not yet made public, there’s no doubt that the rest of her life will be the best of her life. Amen.