Youthful dreams come true with gospel award nominations

WHEN Unathi Ndzube’s domestic employer brought home fashion magazines every day, she would cut out fashion and beauty columns and paste them on the walls of her shack in Cape Town.

This is how her journey as a fashion designer, beautician, gospel artist and motivational speaker started 22 years ago. Today, her hard work has finally paid off as Ndzube is nominated in the upcoming annual Independent Gospel Music Awards in the categories of best dressed artist and best gospel single.

The 42-year-old, who is from Seymour township just outside Alice, said as the first-born of six children she had to “hustle for a living”.

“I sold sweets and paraffin before becoming a domestic worker in 1995. My employer at the time was an Italian woman who loved fine things and fashion. She inspired and reassured that I will go places with my passion.

“My love for music, however, started in my local church choir and it was also there that I met my husband, Ndzube.”

She said she enrolled herself at Walter Sisulu University where she had hoped to study fashion or music, but God had other plans.

“I ended up studying internal auditing and today I’m working Pastor Phumzile as a budget controller at the Eastern Cape department of roads and public works.”

Ndzube will release her new album later this year titled Unamandla uThixo wethu.

The annual Ingomas will take place on August 26 in Johannesburg.