Vusiwe ngcobo biography sample paper
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Vusiwe Ngcobo went from television child star to a finance and banking lawyer. She tells us about her journey, and shares her life lessons.
ByKwanele Mathebula Picture Peter Whitfield
I broke into the entertainment industry at the age of eight. My siblings and I were part of the music group Amaponi when we were all under the age of 13. I learnt very early on to be independent and self-sufficient. We travelled around the world performing while still attending school. At home, my parents – Ihashi Elimhlophe and Linah Ngcobo – treated us like normal children; we had chores and contributed to the household financially because we were working. This helped me to remain grounded and respectful. And, since they were also in the industry, they helped us navigate through it, ensuring that everything we did was always in our best interests. After releasing five albums, our interests started changing; I wanted to venture into television presenting.
In 2004 I landed a job as a YoTV presenter. Four years earlier, our group was on the show for an interview. Afterwards I asked one of the producers to inform me when they were looking for presenters. Growing up watching presenter Mandisa Nakana on the show sparked my interest in presenting. The producer took a while to get back t
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Sun shines brightly on Ntombee after a rough time
The Ngcobos have been on the spotlight for ages and for good reasons and that had to do with the leadership of the presenter’s father. Ihhashe Elimhlophe, whose real name is Bheki Ngcobo, has demonstrated unwavering leadership both in public and in the family's private lives as father and musician at the fore front of the growth of maskandi music in SA.
Linah Khama, the matriarch, is another well-known name in the local music industry. She started her career with Mthembu Queens where she met her hubby. After backing bands like Stimela, she pursued her solo career as Ebony while their children — Nkosinathi, Ntombee, Vusiwe and Jabulani — were introduced to the music and entertainment world at large at a young age as Amaponi band.
“The idea of a reality show began 15 years ago and we came up with a pitch and wrote proposals sending to different channels until we got a yes at Mzansi Magic. People can expect to see us being ourselves. A lot of people know that I have been through a lot but do not know what kind of a person I am outside the spotlight.”
“This is our reality and this is our life. There is nothing diluted or sugarcoated. We did not hire houses and cars to portray a different lifestyle that we don’t live. This i