The curtain rose at the Malombo Theatre in Pretoria, and time stood still. What followed was not merely a concert or a play but an enchanting, deeply felt experience that opened a portal to something sacred.
A Place Called Ngoma, the latest offering from celebrated artist Ntsika Ngxanga, arrived as a tender, thunderous gift. It was a calling answered with music, movement, and magic.
Brought to life with the unwavering support of the South African State Theatre, Ngoma proved that true art doesn't just entertain; it heals, remembers, and awakens. Every moment pulsed with purpose, from the opening chant to the final applause. Audiences were not just observers; they became citizens of Ngoma — laughing, crying, dancing, and praying.
Ntsika, whose voice seems woven from the very breath of his ancestors, offered more than a performance. He shared dreams, songs gifted to him in sacred sleep, and visions that found life on stage through melody and movement. “These songs are not mine,” Ntsika reflected in a recent interview. “I am just a vessel.
They came through dreams. They came through spirit.”
He did not walk this journey alone. A brilliant, creative family stood beside him—two masterful guitarists, a pianist whose fingers moved like whispers, and a drummer who kept time with the heartbeat of the continent.
Backing vocalists — three men and one luminous woman—wrapped the theatre in warm harmony, while lighting and costume design brought colour to every emotion.
A yellow- and- white traditional outfit shimmered with each lighting cue, transforming with the stories it carried.
The South African State Theatre must be lovingly applauded, not only for presenting Ngoma but also for nurturing it. This kind of theatre leads with heart, investing in work that uplifts spirit and community. It is a home for artists, a temple for the soul, and a lighthouse for stories that must be told.
And now, the journey continues.
After a breathtaking Pretoria debut, Ngoma will travel to Cape Town, Durban, the Eastern Cape Johannesburg.
Each city will feel its version of this wonder, as Ntsika and his team invite South Africans from all walks of life to join the circle, feel the rhythm, and remember who we are.
Ngoma is not just a show. It is a feeling. A return.A celebration.An embrace.
If you missed it in Pretoria, don’t worry — Ngoma is coming your way. Come and be moved. Come and be seen. Come and be home.
Ngoma is soul. Ngoma is spirit. Ngoma lives on.
