Blood and Water superstar Fikile Ngema has been living her wildest dreams for the last four years. Dreams that have validated a childhood desire and also affirmed that she belonged within the entertainment industry which can sometimes leave some wandering.
Khosi Ngema’s story is a testament of what happens when you surrender to the calling, knowing that all things will work out for your good.
Her breakout role on Netflix’s second African original series was exactly what she needed at age 19, receiving a rather casual “you got the role” text from her agent while lazing around watching ‘When They See Us.’
The crying from the intensity of that series was quickly taken over by shock, which stopped her midway and was quickly followed by screams. It was in that very moment that the budding star knew that her life was about to change completely.
“At that time, I felt lost and sad because I had just taken a gap year and was meant to be returning to school that very year. But circumstances that were beyond my powers, were not allowing me to. And I remember feeling really deflated, wondering what I was doing with my life. That opportunity came as an answer from God. Like a gift,” she said.
This big break has since been a huge blessing in her life both professionally and personally – awarding the star an international opportunity which she refers to as matchless grace.
Khosi’s character, Fikile or Fiks, was featured on another Netflix series Elite, which is shot and based in Spain. This meant flying over to Spain, alone, to bring the African flavour to the Spanish series. An opportunity she said she could not believe to be true.
Since jumping on the streaming platform, Khosi has been propelled forward as one of Mzansi’s budding talents in the lead.
This is where it all began.
“From as young as 3 years old, I already thought of myself as the Beyonce of the group between my sister and cousin. I would be dressed up in crop tops and cute skirts and would transform into a diva because I really believed in my head that I was the star of the show (whatever the show was),” she said.
Her biggest influence came from watching her late multifaceted grandmother, Patience Africa, who was a singer, actress, and also composed music during her time. Ngema, raised by her grandmother until the age of six, modeled herself on the superstar who, in her eyes, was a superhero.
“I got to absorb her and watch her. From her personality, to her forever young spirit, and how she carried herself as a star. I lived with a sensational talent every day to a point where I saw myself in her.
“But I can say that it sunk in for me that the arts were where I belonged when I got to high-school. Where I got to learn about drama and music in depth as a subject. The education afforded me the opportunity to really understand the arts and with music, I was part of the orchestra, the choir and the works.”
She knew who she wanted to be but when her foundation was rocked a little, being moved away from her grandiose grandmother who fed her inner artistic self – having to move in with her father and then stepmother – left her world a little out-of-balance. The subsequent passing of her grandmother in 2007 added salt to an already existing wound. A double whammy, if you may.
This unexpected flip in reality caused her to shy back into her shell and she had to deal with a lot of insecurities that started to creep in. Who was she now? What was her purpose? Her stability was rocked, causing her to second guess everything.
But the dream was still very much alive.
These internal battles have been raging within her for a long time now, and although she is actively working on herself – peeling away at the many layers of what makes Khosi- she does admit that she is a work-in-progress.
“I definitely did not feel like I belonged (within the industry) from day one,” she said giggling. “Some days I still feel off balance, to be honest, where I’ll have an overwhelming sense of imposter syndrome. Dealing with little things that maybe otherwise would have not mattered but suddenly are inflated because of now being in the public eye more constantly and working in front of the camera. It is my inner child, the crop top girl who was in awe of her grandmother, that always reminds me of who I am. A star.”
The many layers to her being also involve singing, with the star teasing her followers from time to time on social media with videos of her flexing this muscle.
This “baby” that she has kept sacred for many years now is ready to be introduced to the world, with Khosi adding that she feels it is the right time.
“The feeling definitely lies between scared and excited. Some days I question what I am doing while on some days I know it is the right thing to do. Because I have been wanting to share this part of myself for so long but I never really felt ready. But now, at this moment, I know it needs to happen.
“I recently read something that spoke to me, that sometimes we fear our own success but that fear might just be God or the universe communicating to you on how important what you are doing is. To trust that power in it. So, I feel calm and I am surrendering to the calling.
“My song, “Why” is very experimental for me and I think I am allowing myself to explore how I can use my voice through the medium of music and not limit myself in any way. This is a great way for me to find my voice.”
“So I am inviting people into this very sacred space of creating, also reminding myself to create for the sake of creating. To enjoy the process of finding myself and my place within music,” she said.
Four seasons in, and music bubbling under – Khosi is ready to reveal more layers to herself, doing so in style and with so much elegance (inspired by her grandmother).
Placing one foot steadily in front of the other, she is ready to take on the world. And we are here for it.