Eswatini Positive News brings you singer/songwriter and poet artist Nonhlanhla Sibisi, popularly known as Nono. She is a mother of two who has learnt to balance her artistic skills while at the same time target to be an entrepreneur.
EPN: Tell us about your journey in Arts?
Poetry
Nono: My love for poetry started in high school and it grew over the years. I have always found it hard to just talk about a lot of things so the pen and paper became the friend I could confide in.
Theatre
Nono: I started doing theatre in the year 2008 under People’s Educational Theatre (PET) then I joined Pelepele Cultural Group later that same year. I have always been drawn to culture and things that represent us as Africans. The most important thing for me is knowledge of self and culture plays and important role in that aspect.
EPN: What does it mean to be a woman in arts?
Nono: There are many challenges we face as women in arts industry and some have the ability of destroying us. My advice is get up every day and fight harder, you deserve all of life’s great gifts.
EPN: How have you adapted to COVID-19?
Nono; Well that was hard a first because I had taken a break from music in 2019 due to personal reasons. So with entertainment industry in strains I turned to cooking and baking. I started making and selling Iow-carb meals. I’m working towards turning that into a legit business.
EPN: What are your future plans on art?
Nono: Nothing is a fulfilling as doing what you were called to do on this earth. And I plan to follow that path.
EPN: What is it like to be a mother and also an artist?
Nono: Of all the gifts God has ever given me, being a mother is the best. I wrote one day that, I learnt about unconditional love when I started having kids. I learned and am still learning more from my kids. Their presence laughter, caress and love is medicine for my soul.
EPN: What are your career plans?
Nono: I am working towards owning a business and providing employment to others. After I had my second child, I gained a lot of weight. It was a challenge for me and it had its toll on my confidence and self-esteem. I turned to low-carb eating and that really worked. I turned that into my business idea. I also sell baked goods.
