Final-year Legal Assistance student and popular hip-hop artist, Ephraim Ntombela (25).
The single, for which he collaborated with popular Maskandi artist, Thokozani Langa, should remind listeners of the importance of their heritage and to be proud of it, says the 26-year-old who hails from Nongoma, Kwazulu-Natal.
“I had to work very hard to be where I am.” Ephraim was raised by his grandmother, Agrinet Ntombela, under difficult circumstances but his passion and dedication made him a cut above the rest.
A music lover at heart, Ephraim started his musical journey when he was in Grade 8.
“I sang in school choirs ever since I was in primary school. I also led an isicathamiya (singing style popular amongst Zulu-speaking people) group from Grade 11 until matric. I won Best Artist Award in 2013, which encouraged me to pursue music,” he adds.
Despite all the challenges Ephraim faced at home he managed to register at TUT in 2017. Being a TUT student exposed him to hip-hop and the possibilities to record and release his first album.
“Where I come from, there are no recording studios. I arrived at TUT and engaged with young musicians representing many different genres. They introduced me to rappers and people who own recording studios,” says Ephraim.
Due to financial difficulties, Ephraim says he could not record his music immediately but used his smartphone to share his music through his YouTube channel.
This channel grew steadily and propelled his fan base to such an extent that he released his first album, titled Iphupho lam’1.
Ephraim is currently working on his second album, to be titled Iphupho lam’2, which will be a collaboration with various other artists.
To listen to Ephraim’s latest single, please click on
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=RqtsOi-C7fw&feature=share or
https://open.spotify.com/track/0JPj3GejYUOul7gXHZ53H4?si=o6mz5sGsR9imiIT9FP4kRA