Bongi Ngobeni (21), a multitalented content creator, writer, poet and baker from Marite near Hazyview, has been making waves in the literary world. She is trending on TikTok with more than 100k followers and also has a YouTube channel where she shares her work.
Born with a passion for words and flour, Ngobeni started on her journey at the age of 10, honing her craft from primary school level through performances and Sunday school participation. She is also a self-taught baker.
Drawing inspiration from parents and role models, she gained confidence and started performing at local events in the Ehlanzeni region. She is now performing in Gauteng, her talent leading to various interviews on a number of radio stations.
“Since I started my poems, I have had a lot of people who have requested that I do poems for their loved ones or their parents because my crafts are all about making people happy and uniting them. I have gained a lot of popularity from people that I don’t even know, but the good thing is that they like my work,” she said.
She gained popularity from her two poems titled “Xola Nhliziyo yami” (May my heart forgive) and “Usheshe Wahleka Sitha Sami,” (You will soon rejoice, my enemy.) These currently have the most views on all her social media platforms. “After these two poems, a number of people asked me to do a duet with them. Others requested that I do more and since then, I have never stopped. I do my poetry in Zulu and young and old people are enjoying it since a number of people are doing theirs in English to accommodate a multi-racial audience, while my aim is to embrace the Nguni language,” she said.
Ngobeni added that baking is one of her hobbies helping her relieve her stress and providing an extra income. “I was watching my mom bake at home, but I never asked her to teach me how. I just decided to take her baking products and do my own baking with a little bit of help from the internet.
Since then, I have never stopped since some of the people who tested my baking were begging for more. I took advantage of that and started to bake and sell my baking to my neighbours and classmates. Now my dream is to have my own bakery one day”, she said.
Ngoben is is a qualified electrical engineer and is currently studying computer literacy. Her poems are available on TikTok and her You Tube channel.
