Ntokozo Mbambo: A leading figure in the African Worship Movement

South African powerhouse Ntokozo Mbambo is widely recognised as one of the most influential worship leaders on the African continent. From her beginnings as a teenage child prodigy to her current status as a global multi award-winning solo artist, her career is a testament to consistency, vocal excellence and the grace of God. Akosua DF caught up with her to talk about her musical journey and life.

AKOSUA DF (ADF): You are known all over the world for your incredible voice. What’s the one thing fans would be surprised to discover about you?
NTOKOZO MBAMBO (NM): I’m actually quite a good cook. I genuinely love cooking and baking for my family. It’s a skill I picked up at home, rooted in a childhood where we cherished sharing moments and meals together. Carrying that tradition into my own nuclear family has been so rewarding.

ADF: You joined Joyous Celebration at just 15 years old. Looking back, what is the most important lesson you learned as the ‘baby’ of that group that still guides your ministry today?
NM: Lean on Jesus alone! I was exposed to a lot at an early age: the responsibility of ministry, the big stages, the audience reactions and opinions… it can weigh on a person, but I’ve learnt that I have an audience of one, and that is God alone. 

ADF: You have remained a leading voice for over 25 years. How do you balance staying true to traditional gospel roots while evolving with the contemporary urban gospel sounds found in albums like Lavish Worship?
NM: It really is all about leaning on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I can’t say that there is enough skill, strategy or opportunity that can make a person stay impactful. It really is the grace of having the Holy Spirit as a Guide and Counsellor. Oh, and I also have a loooot of really amazing people around me! I am blessed with an incredible husband who not only loves me but respects me and my ministry, and it’s truly been the grace of God at work in both our lives. 

ADF: You’ve worked with artists like Nathaniel Bassey, Joe Mettle, MOG Music and Diana Hamilton (to name a few). What do you look for in a collaborator to ensure the spiritual chemistry matches the musicality?
NM: This is a tricky question. I don’t have any specific criteria that I use, but I pray and allow time to hear back from the Holy Spirit. I admire some of the great ministers I’ve collaborated with, or those who have impacted my spiritual walk, some have since become friends in the ministry. However, in all my collaborations, spiritual resonance with my confession, and belief is of the utmost importance. 

ADF: You recently expressed a deep vision for the ‘Open Heavens’ intercessory worship project. Why do you believe intercessory worship is so critical for the world right now?
NM: You know, I didn’t fully understand what God was asking of me until I started walking and stepping out in faith about it. ‘Open Heavens 2025’ wassomething I can’t explain or put into words even now. I simply had to do what God charged me to do: “Gather My people under open heavens and create an atmosphere where I can move.” Intercessory worship is what is needed now, because more than being in God’s presence to worship and glorify Him, we need to stand on behalf of others (intercession) and cry out for the lost souls. People are chained by so much heaviness, and we’re called to be the light in the darkness, and that’s why it’s important now.

ADF: You’ve mentioned in past interviews that you enjoy training and imparting skills to aspiring musicians. What is the #1 piece of advice you would give to a young singer, who has the voice but is struggling to find their calling?
NM: Intimacy with God is key! Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is absolutely important. It is through intimacy that you will discover who you are in Him. It’s through intimacy that you will discover what your purpose is, and how you’re supposed to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. That’s how you’ll discover the move of God, the how to execute, the what to execute. It’s honestly intimacy, intimacy, intimacy. You need to spend time in prayer, spend time in the Word, spend time in worship privately. It’s true that who you are in public is just a reflection of who you are in private, and your private time must make God the priority.

ADF: So, we love a good love story here at Keep The Faith. How did you meet your husband and how did you know he was ‘the one’?
NM: The version of how we met usually depends on who’s telling it [laughs]. Since my husband is a gifted musician, I’d actually known of him for years when we were younger. We moved in the same circles – weddings, church conferences and family gatherings – but our official introduction didn’t happen until 2001, when we both joined Joyous Celebration. We built our foundation as fellow ministers and professionals before becoming friends, and eventually, something more. I’ll never forget telling my mother I’d met someone I liked; before I could even say his name, she told me she already knew exactly who it was. That was all the confirmation I needed to move forward into our courtship.

ADF: You and your husband have such a beautiful way of balancing marriage and ministry. What would you say are the keys to making it work so well?
NM: We actually shared a lot of the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of our marriage in a web series for our 15th anniversary. The secret? It takes the Holy Spirit and a whole lot of intentionality. It’s about choosing each other every single day. For example, if I commit to a date night, I honour that promise. While flexibility is necessary, it should never become an excuse for inconsistency. Staying true to my word and keeping my husband a priority hasn’t just helped my marriage, it’s been vital for my spiritual health, too.

ADF: Where can we catch you live this year? We’d also love to know what’s in store for the rest of 2026.
NM: It’s gearing up to be a busy year. I currently have dates for Durban and Johannesburg (SA), Canada and London.

ADF: OK, so I must throw in one random fun question. What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you while on stage or during a live recording?
NM: Oh, wow!!! You know, I have learnt to be prepared and overprepared with my outfits because I’ve lost count of the number of faux pas I’ve had. I have options C and D, always!

Connect on Instagram @ntokozombambo

AKOSUA DF
UK-based broadcast journalist and media personality with a love for all things gospel. Follow on social media @akosuadf