Nandipha Mnyani

Nandie Mnyani is an indigenous music specialist who has focused her career on the promotion, education and preservation of all Africa’s musical cultures. She worked as a programme administrator at the Centre for Indigenous Instrumental Music and Dance Practices of Africa (CIIMDA) (2009-2012) followed by being a music educator for the Gauteng Department of Education’s Magnet Schools (2012 to 2018) as a music theory, African drum and vocal teacher. In 2018, SAMRO Foundation employed her to spearhead the Indigenous African Music (IAM) transcription programme. She holds a Bmus Honours Degree from UCT and is presently reading her Masters in Arts & Culture Management at WITS University.

She is the lead singer of her own jazz band Mnandi Blue band. Nandie is also the co-founder of Ugubhu Nezinsimbi zomculo wesintu, an organisation that teaches and trains young learners in Soweto how to play Indigenous instruments. Classes are operated from Morris Isaacson Music School Soweto from 3-5pm on Monday, Wednesdays, Saturdays. Recently, she expanded and started the Kids music lessons in Yeoville at Sankofie Coffee and Book bar on Sundays. Instrument lessons offered are Umakhweyana, Uhadi, Mamkhorong, Djembe, Marimba and others.