Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
GROWING up with a passion for the arts in a world where art is more of a hobby than a rewarding financial career saw many aspiring artistes take different routes in their career than they would have loved to.
For Nomalanga Tshuma, the arts were her first love and she felt at home singing or acting at school but the misfortune of losing her parents saw her having to forget her passion. Life as an orphan meant she had to quickly find work that would enable her to support herself.
Arts being a career that rewards in the long run meant she had to shelve any plans of pursuing singing.
However, they say a true dream never dies and after setting herself up in business and securing steady income as a miner, she decided it was time to rekindle her love with music.
Tshuma, who goes by the stage name, Noma, a shortened version of her first name, first ventured into gospel when she went into the studio last year as she felt thankful to God for what she calls the “miracles” in her life that saw her conquering her struggles.
“My parents died when I was 14 and it was a struggle growing up without them by my side and I feel all I have achieved is because of God’s works. I felt compelled to do gospel to express my gratitude, show God how grateful I am for all the wonders he has done in my life. I released three gospel songs and recorded a video for the tune Your Grace in February this year.
“But down the line, I decided to change to Afro-pop, which is more of dance tunes as that is what is kicking now appeals to a lot of youths but I have not dumped gospel,” she said, adding she grew up between Bulawayo and Gwanda.
Noma (26) released five house singles in June this year, Muntu Wami, Ngikhathele, Gcwala Gcwele, African Dream and Ngcela.
She reveals the songs are an expression of her emotions and when she pens lyrics, she does so from the heart.
Most of the tracks are love songs as she expresses her undying love for her partner.
“I have managed to perform at some parties in Johannesburg, South Africa small key affairs but that helped me get my music out and also got hired to perform at three Nigerian weddings there.
“Locally I have performed in Gwanda, Club 263 and Palace Hotel, but I am hoping to get more performances as I complete my album by early next year,” said Noma, who records at Wisdom Records with most of her works produced by Cruz and MC Tintle.
She revealed she has been doing acting lessons and is intent on mastering the craft and has been offered a role in an upcoming film.
On how she juggles running her businesses that includes retail shops and a mining venture in Gwanda, being a single parent and singing on other hand, Noma said being driven by passion saw her able to come up with a schedule that ensures she gives adequate attention to each of her obligations.
“I love mining, it is something I cannot stop doing and it puts food on the table while running businesses is also something that keeps me on my toes. My children are an important part of my life so I make sure I make time for them between my busy schedule and at times I have to spend late nights in the studio recording while in the afternoon attending to my businesses,” she said.
Noma said she still has high dreams of her arts career and is intent on becoming one of the country’s top acts.
“I have never put limitations to myself on what I can do or achieve, being a woman has never deterred me from pursuing my dreams hence I decided to go for mining.
“I want to be able to achieve all my dreams and once I focus on attaining a goal nothing can stand in my way. I encourage other women not to be hindered by gender but go headlong into achieving their dreams.
“Growing up as an orphan taught me that there is no rest and one does not have time to sleep and you have to work very hard if you are to achieve your goals,” she added.