The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music proudly presents Durban vocalist Nicky Shange on Wednesday 26 February 2020 at 18:00.

While featured by the group Shana at the Bat Centre, she was spotted by the late legend Mam Busi

Mhlongo who was in attendance. Mhlongo was so impressed and asked the young student who was studying music at Natal Technikon if she was willing to work with her as a backing vocalist, an offer she definitely could not refuse.

In 2001, she moved to Johannesburg where she became part of Joyous Celebration.

After leaving Joyous Celebration, she became a backing vocalist for Thandiswa Mazwai,

Malaika and Jaziel Brothers, to mention but a few. Later she was noticed by Jonas

Gwangwa whom she travelled with extensively. Some of the countries performed in include Namibia, Benin, Mozambique, Swaziland, Algeria, Mauritius, Germany and the Unites States. She has also worked with Themba Mkhize and Sibongile Khumalo.

As part of embarking on a solo career, she moved back to Durban in 2015. She has had several live performances in and around Durban, to the delight of audiences. Nicky has been writing songs since 1993. She refuses to be boxed into a specific genre because of her versatility. African rhythms, soulful sounds, and jazz are some of the music genres she infuses.

In 2016, Nicky was the lead singer in a project called Forest Jam Orchestra. The project consisted of musicians from Switzerland, Mozambique and South Africa. The group performed live at Kaya FM and toured South Africa and neighbouring countries. Recently, she performed songs by her late mentor Mam Busi Mhlongo in a live broadcast on Ukhozi FM which honoured fallen South African music icons. One of her immediate goals include recording a live album, which her fans will get to know her as a solo artist. Performing live is one of the things that give her the greatest satisfaction as an artist.

Join Nicky Shange with her band Sanele Phakathi, Lebo Leqoa, Bernard Mndaweni , Bethuel Tshoane, Sbu Zondi, Sfiso Cele, Thembeka Duma  at The Centre for Jazz and Popular music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College Campus on Wednesday 26 February 2020 at 18h00. Doors open at 17h30pm. R90 for general admission // R60 pensioners // R30 for students. Please contact Thuli on 031 2603385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more details.