Thandi Ntuli

Exploring the fullness of who she is – who we are – in her personal and collaborative projects,
South African composer, pianist, and singer Thandi Ntuli negotiates a wide palette of sound
and genre. This approach is a proud embracing of having grown up with the family lore of a
classical singer aunt, after whom she is named; an uncle (Selby Ntuli) who was a member of
Afro-rock band Harari; and a grandfather (Levi Godlib Ntuli) who – while living with his young
family in 1940s Sophiatown, a cultural hub not unlike 1920s Harlem in New York – fostered
among his children a tradition of composing, playing and singing music together. This
tradition still lives on. Through her work over a hitherto 13-year career, Thandi has carved
space for herself, and others seeking home, to fully exist – thereby firmly situating herself
and the contemporary South African generation in the musical cannon. Her frank-yet-
empathetic and vulnerable gaze on herself, and the world, has birthed a body of work that
facilitates our access to our histories, presents and futures by creating in music literature the
existence of language, experiences and space that speak to us. For young South Africans and

creatives – not least of all, women – Thandi represents a home-going to ourselves, each other
and our communities.

Read more: https://www.thandintuli.com/about