Ntokozo Mbambo

Ntokozo Mbambo
Born (1985-11-06) November 6, 1985 (age 39)
Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
OriginDurban
GenresGospel, Urban gospel
Occupationsinger-songwriter
Instrumentvocals
Years active2001–present
LabelsKoko Records
Formerly ofJoyous Celebration
Spouse
Nqubeko Mbatha
​
(m. 2008)​

Ntokozo Mbambo (born 6 November 1985) is a South African singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Umlazi,[1] Mbambo professional music career began as a member and lead singer of the gospel group Joyous Celebration at the age of 15.

She made her on-screen debut as a judge in I Want to Sing Gospel (2014) and Idols SA season 17 (2021). Her accolades includes 5 South African Music Awards, 6 African Gospel Music and Media Awards, 2 Crown Gospel Music Awards, 2 Praise Achievement Awards, 1 Metro FM Music Awards, and 1 Basadi in Music Awards.

Life and career

Mbambo was born on the 6th of November 1985 in the township of Umlazi in Durban, South Africa. Her music interest began at her early age and joined South African gospel choir Joyous Celebration as lead singer at the age 15 of in 2002 became youngest member at the time.

Mbambo studied and obtained a degree in Information Technology programming at the Durban North Varsity College in 2006. She also attended the University of Zululand and graduated with a Bachelor of Education (BEd) in English Language and Literature/Letters and Social Sciences.

Mbambo released her debut studio album Bambelela in 2001.

Her live album Keep on Believing, was released in 2007. It earned her nominations at Metro FM Music Awards for Best Gospel Album and three nominations at the 2007 Crown Gospel Music Awards.

Following her departure with Joyous Celebration in 2011, Mbambo signed with Koko Records and began working on her solo studio album following year in 2012.

Filled was recorded at a Lyric Theatre concert and released in 2012. The album was certified Double Platinum in South Africa.[2]

She bagged her first television role as a judge on the third season of the SABC 2 Gospel reality competition I Want to Sing Gospel in 2014.[3]

Her fourth studio album Spirit and Life was released on 10 October 2015.[4] It received nominations for Album of Excellence, Female Artiste of Excellence and won Artiste Of Excellence Southern Africa, Event of Exellence at the 2017 ceremony of African Gospel Music and Media Awards.

In July 2021, Mbambo appeared on Idols SA season 17 as a guest judge.[5][6]

In early November 2022, Mbambo announced her surprise studio album via Instagram.[7]

Moments in Time was released 6 November 2018 digitally.[7][8][9]

Her studio album Lavish Worship, was released 21 March 2023.[10] Lavish Worship won three awards for Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Faith album of the Year at the 29th South African Music Awards.[11][12]

In addition, Lavish Worship was nominated for Best Female and won Best Gospel Album at the 18th Metro FM Music Awards.[13]

In early July 2024, Mbambo performed South African National Anthem for Springboks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium, Durban.[14]

Personal life

Mbambo married music producer Nqubeko Mbatha on 17 May 2008.[15][16][17][18]

Filmography

Television

Year Film/Sopie Role title
2014 I Want to Sing Gospel
2021 Idols SA Guest Judge

Discography

Studio albums

  • Filled (2012)
  • Gospel Hits (2014)
  • Spirit and Life (2015)
  • The Anniversary Project (2018)
  • Lavish Worship (2023)

Live albums

  • Keep On Believing (2013)
  • Moments in Time (2018)
  • The First Noël (2020)
  • Makabongwe: The Sound of Revival (2023)

Achievements

African Entertainment Awards USA

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Herself Best Gospel Artist Nominated [19]

African Gospel Music and Media Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2013 Filled Album of the Year Won [20]
Herself Female Artist of the Year Won
2017 Spirit and Life Album of Excellence Nominated [21]
Herself Female Artiste of Excellence Nominated
Artiste Of Excellence Southern Africa Won
Spirit and Life (Live) Event of Excellence Won
2019 Herself Artist of Excellence Southern Africa Won [22]
Female Artist of Excellence Won

Basadi in Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 "Ngcwele Nkosi" Gospel Artist of the Year Won [23]

[24] [25] [26]

Crown Gospel Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2008 Herself Best Praise and Worship Nominated [27]
Best Gospel Artist Nominated
Best Female Gospel Artist Nominated
2011 "In The Shadow" Classic Of All Times Won
2012 Herself Best Gospel Female Won [28]
Best Gospel Artist Won
iNxaniwe Best Worship Album Nominated
Inxaniwe Best Gospel Song Nominated
2013 Herself Best Gospel Artist Nominated [29]

Praise Achievement Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Herself Artiste Of The Year Won [30]
Global Honorary Award Won

Metro FM Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2007 Keep on Believing Best Gospel Album Won [31]
2024 Lavish Worship Best Gospel Album Won [32]
Best Female Nominated

South African Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2013 Filled Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Won [33][34]
Album of the Year Nominated
Female Artist of the Year Nominated
2016 Spirit and Life Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Won [35]
2023 Lavish Worship Album of the Year Won [36]
Best Contemporary Faith album of the year Won
Female Artist of the Year Won

References

  1. ^ "From music, love and fitness: Ntokozo Mbambo chats to GLAMOUR". Glamour. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  2. ^ "SA's gospel gem Ntokozo Mbambo to grace Free to Worship UK concert". New Zimbabwe. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  3. ^ "Ntokozo Mbambo - TVSA". Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  4. ^ "Mbambo's gospel of 'Spirit and Life'". Independent Online. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  5. ^ Tsewu, Siya (26 July 2021). "Gospel singer Ntokozo Mbambo on music, parenting, self-care and being a guest judge on Idols". Daily SUN. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  6. ^ "Our gospel guests on working on Idols – Idols SA". DStv. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  7. ^ a b Masuluke, Koketso (2022-11-06). "Ntokozo Mbambo releases a new album". Bona. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  8. ^ "Gospel star Ntokozo Mbambo releases surprise album for fans". Independent Online. 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  9. ^ "Ntokozo Mbambo's Travel Essentials". House and Garden. 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  10. ^ Tsewu, Siya (28 March 2023). "Five minutes Ntokozo Mbambo on the release of her latest album, Lavish Worship". Daily SUN. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  11. ^ "NTOKOZO MBAMBO'S ALBUM WINS BIG AT SAMA AWARDS". South Africa: eNCA. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  12. ^ Mati, Bongiwe (2023-11-18). "Ntokozo Mbambo scoops 3 Sama Awards". Bona. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  13. ^ Shumba, Ano (2024-04-28). "Metro FM Music Awards 2024: All the winners". Music in Africa. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  14. ^ Gaanakgomo, Constance (15 July 2024). "'What an honour': Ntokozo Mbambo's anthem debut amazes at Springboks vs Ireland rugby match". South Africa: News24. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  15. ^ Bambelela, Patience (2008-04-09). "Gospel star finds her Mr Right". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  16. ^ Malema, Poelano (17 May 2021). "Ntokozo Mbambo and Nqubeko Mbatha celebrate 13 years of marriage". Kaya959. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  17. ^ "Gospel star Ntokozo Mbatha gushes over Nqubeko on their 8th wedding anniversary". TimesLIVE. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  18. ^ Mathebula, Kwanele (15 May 2020). "Happy 12th anniversary to Ntokozo Mbambo and Nqubeko Mbatha!". Bona Magazine. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  19. ^ Hansen, Gabriel Myers (2023-09-15). "Africa Entertainment Awards USA 2023: All the nominees". Music in Africa. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  20. ^ "Africa Gospel Music Awards [AGMA] 2013: Full List Of Recipients". 8 July 2013. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  21. ^ "NEWSAGMMA 2017, And The Winners Are..." Praise World. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  22. ^ Shumba, Ano (14 June 2019). "Africa Gospel and Media Awards 2019: All the winners". Music in Africa. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  23. ^ Scheepers, Xanet (2023-08-13). "Nadia Nakai, Kelly Khumalo wins big at the second annual Basadi in Music Awards". The Citizen. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  24. ^ "Well-known stars win big at Basadi".
  25. ^ "Here's what went down at the second annual Basadi in Music Awards". TimesLIVE. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  26. ^ "Basadi in Music Awards 2023: All the winners". Music In Africa. 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  27. ^ "SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards | Season 1 | TVSA". TVSA. 2012-12-25. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  28. ^ "SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards". TVSA. 2012-12-02. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  29. ^ "SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards". TVSA. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  30. ^ Njemla, Dideka (19 December 2023). "Ntokozo Mbambo wins Artiste Of The Year Africa in Ghana". Bona. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  31. ^ "The Metro FM Music Awards". TVSA. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  32. ^ "METRO FM MUSIC AWARDS 2024 WINNERS ANNOUNCED". Metro Fm. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  33. ^ "The SAMA 2013 Winners". GQ Magazine. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  34. ^ "2013 SAMAs - the winners are ..." TVSA. 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  35. ^ "Here are all the 2016 Sama winners". News24. South Africa. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  36. ^ Kanju, Neziswa (22 November 2023). "Big win for Ntokozo Mbambo — and for Kingdom of God!". Gateway News. Retrieved 2024-06-22.