INGODUKO

ABOUT

INGODUKO is a homecoming, the appreciation of African music by Africans, where it began, and giving a nostalgia of home through song. 

BIOGRAPHY

Thandeka Louisa Mfinyongo is a musician born and raised in Nyanga East, Cape Town (South Africa). Mfinyongo’s love and passion for performing arts started at a very young age while at church. In 2017, she graduated with a Performer’s Diploma in Music, and in 2018, graduated with an Advanced Diploma in African Music, both from the University of Cape Town. Additionally, she recently completed her Master’s in Music Performance at SOAS University of London, with a major in kora (an instrument from West Africa). Mfinyongo specializes in two Xhosa instruments, uhadi (gourd/calabash bow) and umrhubhe (mouth-bow).

Mfinyongo has performed in various stages including the Baxter Theatre and ArtsCape Theatre. In 2008, she joined a drama, dance, and music group called Rainbow Arts Organisation and soon after sang in the His Favour Gospel choir, which recorded an album in 2013. She has performed at the Zabalaza Festival in March 2013 (Baxter Theatre) and in a June 16th musical production at ArtsCape Theatre (as part of a collaboration of a group of young people from different communities). Mfinyongo also writes and has performed one of her poems at the Land Act 1913 Commemoration which took place at the Homecoming in District Six. In March 2014, she was involved in the International Jazz Festival Skills Development, sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture. Between 2014 and 2017, she was part of the UCT iBuyambo Ensemble, performing regularly in Cape Town during this period. Mfinyongo is one of the founding members of a musical group called Azanian Aesthetics (2016).

In May 2018, Mfinyongo released her first single called Wenza Ngabom and made her debut on a local TV station show called Hectic99 where she performed the song. In August 2018, she had her first solo performance at Baxter’s Masambe Theatre. In November 2018, she had the opportunity to perform with the legendary Madosini (known as “The Queen of Xhosa” instruments), Msaki (a South African contemporary recording artist), and Nomtha as part of an event called ‘At the Feet of a Living Archive’ at Youngblood Gallery in Cape Town.

In May 2019, Mfinyongo performed at the Global LBQ Conference which was held in Cape Town South Africa for the first time. She did an Eastern Cape tour with two of her friends, performing in Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. In the same year, she performed at AfroBru in Johannesburg alongside Morena Leraba, an organized performance by ALTBLK.

 In 2019, she worked with Zyo on a song called Brighter Day, released on the 14th of June 2019. In June 2019, she performed at The Awakening Sessions in Kimberly, and in July, she performed at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown alongside one of South Africa’s renowned musicians, Dumza Maswana. In August 2019, she performed with the lead singer of the Freshlyground, Zolani Mahola for the Take a Child to Theatre Benefit Concert at the Baxter Theatre. In October 2019, while at SOAS University of London, she performed in events like Young Gifted and Black during Black History Month. In November of the same year, she performed at the Antariksha, a fundraiser event, organized by Sister Library and SOAS Indian Dance Society. Mfinyongo also worked as a Social Media Ambassador for the SOAS School of Arts. In November 2019, she performed at the South African Embassy event which was held at the International Maritime Organisation Headquarters in London, alongside the Kalahari Band. During the Covid-19 lockdown, she did virtual performances: The first one was organized by the House Concert Bombay in India and the other by the Global Hope Festival. She is currently a great success; with a single called ‘Ingoma Yam’ released in collaboration with Zyo and Kitso garnering major attention and a cover feature on the ISH London Magazine. In March 2021, Mfinyongo shared a stage with celebrated South African musicians Zoe Modiga and BandaBanda. In April 2021, Mfinyongo had a homecoming show called INGODUKO “Going back home” in Port Elizabeth (now known as Gqeberha) in partnership with Inverness on Tulla.  

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