South African singer Lwah Ndlunkulu has opened up about the difficult circumstances she experienced before establishing herself in the music industry, revealing that her journey included a long period without a stable place to call home.
The singer left her family home in KwaZulu-Natal with hopes of pursuing a career in music. However, her decision came at a time when her family wanted her to concentrate on completing her education. Determined to follow her passion, she travelled to Johannesburg in search of opportunities that could help her turn her musical ambitions into reality.
Life in the city proved far more difficult than she had imagined. Without permanent accommodation, Lwah found herself having to find creative ways to survive while continuing to work towards her dream. At one point, she reportedly slept at a recording studio because she had nowhere else to stay.
To support herself, she worked as a waitress in Maboneng. The job provided her with an income and tips that helped her pay for basic necessities while she tried to establish herself as an artist.
One of the challenges she faced was finding somewhere to shower. Without a home of her own, she used some of the money she earned from waitressing to pay for access to a gym, allowing her to maintain basic personal hygiene while navigating life without stable accommodation.
Despite these hardships, Lwah refused to give up on music. She continued recording whenever she had the opportunity and remained determined to get her voice heard. Rather than allowing her circumstances to end her ambitions, she used every available opportunity to remain close to the industry she hoped would eventually change her life.
Her persistence eventually brought her into the orbit of musician Big Zulu and Inkabi Records. Lwah spent time around Big Zulu’s studio, continuing to work on her music and making herself available for opportunities.
Big Zulu eventually heard her voice and recognised her potential. That moment became an important turning point in her career and helped open doors that had previously seemed out of reach.
Her journey later included collaborations and successful releases, including her own music such as “Ithuba”, which helped strengthen her position in the South African music scene.
Lwah Ndlunkulu’s story highlights the challenges that can exist behind the success audiences eventually see. Before achieving recognition, she faced homelessness, financial difficulties and uncertainty while continuing to pursue her passion.
Her experience serves as a reminder that success does not always begin with favourable circumstances. Sometimes, it starts with perseverance, sacrifice and the determination to keep moving forward despite difficult conditions.
For Lwah, the decision to leave home in pursuit of music ultimately became the beginning of a journey that would take her from surviving day to day to building a career in the industry she had always dreamed of joining.
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