The road to finding yourself and expressing yourself authentically is very difficult but worth exploring. As an artist, Noluthando “Sanibonani” Shandu has expressed her journey and the moments she experienced. While reading up on her growth and journey, place yourself in a position to learn and resonate with Sanibonani’s story.
By: Lesego Kgatle
Noluthando “Sanibonani” Shandu is a singer-songwriter that is “flexible with creativity” and uses her gift to restore healing to others and herself. In her flexibility, Noluthando expresses sound through jazz, afro soul and Zulu traditional music. Her hard work is manifested through a lot of aspects in her career and especially through her position in the African Monologue Challenge. Read more on the challenge and her journey in music.
“My relationship with music started from a very young age”
There have been multiple encounters with music that opened up Noluthando to wanting to be in the music space. With her sister being a part of a choir, she would sometimes go with her to rehearsals, and eventually fall in love with spaces that had singing involved. “Music was always something that I went to when I was sad and when I was happy, it still is today.” “Being made to wash the dishes, by my sister, would be make me upset but then completing this chore while singing would then lift my mood.” God’s preparation for Noluthando’s career was formed in her school days where she was the “entertainment for the class during free periods in high school…” and every day, she and her friend would sing and perform.
Sanibonani
“It took God, my family and the people around me, seeing me and acknowledging my gift so I can actually pursue this, which is why I called myself Sanibonani, which is a greeting in Isizulu meaning I see you.” Noluthando received a lot of guidance and support during her career, and she sheds light on her mentor, Sue-livia, a missionary singer-songwriter based in Cape Town. “She helped me see that I have talent, helped me nature my talent of songwriting and singing and allowed me to break out of my shell to not be shy.” Another guide that Noluthando is grateful for, is a guy she was serving with in a function at Pretoria. “He found me singing to an invisible audience. Our eyes caught each other, and he then asked why I stopped and if I loved singing, why am I not doing it”. This question stayed with her, and eventually she did it.
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“I consider myself privileged to be able to actually pursue this career“
“I say privilege because both my mother and sister have the love for music, but I believe that they never really pursued it because of economic reasons”, Noluthando expresses. “My sister has an amazing voice, but when I suggested music as a career, she told me that pursuing a career in singing was never something that she thought she could do because she had to quickly find a job and help my mother in the house and a career in music or anything in the arts is not secure.” Being able to form a singing career is something that Noluthando is very grateful for. With her gift of music stemming from her family, she had the opportunity to further the passion into a career. “I was also in a choir and so was my sister and mother, although I did not initially know that my mother was a part of a choir”. Noluthando further expresses how she was the first in her generation, privileged enough, to pursue a music career.
“…trees teach me your song.”
Noluthando draws inspiration from Psalm 148:9 when writing music. “Trees teach me your song, mountains teach me and let’s worship the Lord together.” Sitting down and listening to her environment and “…whatever caught progression that came in that moment” allows her to create work that resonates and is authentic to her.
Do you create music primarily for yourself or with your fans in mind?
Sometimes I will write solely for my healing purposes and to process my emotions and questions that I have within me. Other times it would be on someone else’s behalf, because I’m aware of what music does for me. There are feelings and situations I cannot verbally articulate or express, but a song allows me to be able to do that. I’m. So, I want to try to do that for the next person.
Has your musical style evolved since the beginning of your career?
“My music style was not really authentic, and I wanted to sound like different people.” Throughout her music career, Noluthando was finding her space and growing in it. “I believe I found my voice. I found my creative voice and so it and it also translates in the music that I create.” Her authenticity in her music has allowed others to experience her wholeheartedly and heal through her music.
“You are created in God’s image, so you looking down on yourself is you looking down on God“
Zoe Modiga was performing “Umdali” and that became “the theme song of the season”. “I remember Zoe Modiga, when she was performing Umdali. Our eyes met and I was just in tears, because that song that she performed, it was one of the songs that that really hit home.” Zoe Modiga’s Umdali translates to how God creates us in his image and the visions and dreams that are placed within us are not to be looked down upon. “If we do not sit down and listen, how are we going to know about these dreams? How we’re going to know about these visions”.
Who is someone you’d love to collaborate with?
“The two people that I’d probably faint in studio if I were to work with is Zoe Modiga and Msaki.“ “I just love their sounds, their work ethic and the way that they write is so beautiful.”
“Your story is worth being shared.”
“Siyanibona, Ngiyanibona” is the core of what Noluthando expresses to aspiring artists. “Sanibonani, holds the heart of my art, my art is to create work that makes other people feel seen.” “I hope you find the courage to share your story.”
The African Monologue Challenge
The African Monologue Challenge is a celebration of African talent, culture, and the spirit of Pan Africanism. Noluthando “Sanibonani” Shandu has taken part in this celebration representing South Africa. From 2000 contestants from all over Africa, with monthly challenges taking place, Noluthando is now in the top 10 making South Africa proud. In the next few weeks, the finales will be taking place and she is preparing herself for them. She is proud to be “representing the nation and not just as an individual on a global platform”.
The journey of creatives allows for growth of aspiring creatives, so check out From Screen To Reality: The Journey Of Actress Ayakha Ntunja