LIMPOPO – Fifteen-year-old praise singer, Kuhlula Theron Ngobeni, known as Mbhuri ya Valambya, says the Vatsonga have been undermined as tribe and it is time to let their voice heard.

Mbhuri ya Valambya, who hails from Khakhala village, said she first started reciting poems at her high school, Muhawu High, where she obtained third place in a competition.

“I want the world to learn about my culture and my traditions. I also don’t want to forget who I am and where I come from, knowing your roots is significant. When performing a praise song, you express your true identity and the meaning of your culture,” said Ngobeni.

She said that she mostly performs at local events, especially royal events where she is part of a group.

“As a Tsonga praise singer, I hope to convey a message of hope, resilience, and spiritual connection. My poems are deeply rooted in our rich cultural heritage and are inspired by Tsonga folklore and biblical teachings. I weave together vibrant rhythms, melodies, and harmonies characteristic of Tsonga poetry. Through my poems I share stories of our ancestors’ faith, struggles, and triumphs, reconnecting our people with their cultural identity and spiritual roots. I incorporate Tsonga proverbs, idioms, and metaphors to convey emotions and themes, making my poems relatable and authentic,” she told Herald.

She added that she always performs in her Tsonga traditional attire. “I engage my audience with energetic movements, ululations, and call-and-response patterns, echoing traditional Tsonga celebrations.”

As a church-going young person, she has found solace and inspiration in the rhythm of the hymns, the beauty the church’s stain glass, the quiet moments of reflection.

“It was there, amidst the spirit of faith and community, that my voice as a poet was first born, my journey as a poet started. The church may have been my starting point, but my journey as a poet has taken me far beyond. However, the lessons I learned within that sacred space, the importance of community, the beauty of shared experience, and the power of vulnerability, continue to guide my words and inspire my art. Let the village girl shine,” she concluded.