The BREATHE experience
More than a performance, BREATHE is a multidisciplinary artistic experience rooted in healing, connection, and sustainable social change. In a world shaped by silence, survival, and the pressure to endure, the production creates a space where vulnerability can be witnessed, honoured, and shared collectively. Through the fusion of live music, digital storytelling, and immersive visual performance, BREATHE becomes both a reflection of our shared humanity and an invitation toward emotional awareness, empathy, and dialogue around mental health.
At the centre of the work are deeply personal conversations and interviews gathered during the creation of the accompanying short films. These lived experiences, reflections, and emotional truths form the foundation of the production. The original musical compositions performed throughout the work are directly inspired by the themes, emotions, and stories that emerged from these conversations, using music as a language through which audiences can feel, process, and connect with experiences that often exist beyond words.
The vision is to be Heard and to be Seen
The production seeks to challenge cultures of silent endurance by creating a platform that prioritises emotional honesty and collective care. Through artistic expression, BREATHE encourages audiences to engage in difficult conversations about mental health while fostering compassion, reflection, and connection.
Following its exploration of vulnerability and grief, BREATHE Season 3: African Consciousness arrives at the National Arts Festival and continues to grow and redefine performance. This immersive experience invites audiences to witness, listen, and transform isolation into community. By celebrating vulnerability as liberation, BREATHE fosters collective empathy and honours every story.
Production Credits
Vocalists
Zizipho Ngoqo (Alto)
Tshegofatso Bennia Makube (Lead)
Zukhanye Stassia Nyeka (Tenor)
Thembisa Dube (Soprano)
Band/Instrumentalists
Sello Prince Lebudi (Music Director)
Bakoena Rashaga (Electric guitarist)
Sinesipho Geelbooi (Drummer)
Thamsanqa Dlamini (Pianist)
Siyabulela Mfuku (Saxophonist)
Bulelani Mfuku (Bassist)
Sound Engineer
Dr Elijah Madiba
Visuals/Film/Photography
Kuhle Nqezana (Audio Engineer)
Mziwamadoda Makalima (Film Editor)
Aphiwe Ngowaphi (Photography)
BREATHE SEASON 3 Interview participants who shared their story.
About the Artists
Zizipho Ngoqo (Alto), a 24-year-old young woman, was born and raised in the small town of Makhanda, where art speaks for itself. She is studying a BA in Communication Studies and Public Administration at the University of South Africa. She is also known as "Zizi" the Alto voice part leader in the Makhanda Kwantu Choir. Her involvement with the multi-sensory production, Breathe, spans three years, with the last two spent as the Project Assistant after initially joining the team as a backing vocalist. Zizipho sees the world as the Art that raised her, music and poetry paint the beauty of life. Driven by a belief in the world’s capacity for kindness and healing, they live in gratitude for the community that shapes their identity as both an individual and an artist.
Tshegofatso Bennia Makube (Lead) is a PhD Candidate at Rhodes University. She is the Founder of Kgalalelo Creatives and BREATHE, President of Makhanda Kwantu Choir, and Lead Facilitator for OUR SELF-CARE wellness programme for a non-profit organisation, Intlantsi Creative Development Project. She is an independent artist (music on all online platforms), composer, vocalist, and advocate for the inclusion of South African Black classical compositions within academic spaces. She is a versatile multidisciplinary artist and has held numerous roles, ranging from vocalist and director to production assistant and audio producer. Tshegofatso’s work is guided by a deep belief that music and art are living archives of the soul. She is deeply committed to using music and the arts as catalysts for healing, empowerment, and social transformation. Through her creative and academic work, she strives to honour African stories, challenge existing narratives, and create spaces where community, culture, and wellness intersect to inspire meaningful change
Zukhanye Stassia Nyeka (Tenor), a 22-year-old multidisciplinary artist from Makhanda, was raised between Makhanda, King William’s Town, and Gqeberha. Currently studying Drama and Music at Rhodes University, they are a passionate creative whose work lives at the intersection of theatre, poetry, and music. For the past five years, Stassia has been a chorister of the Makhanda Kwantu Choir, and for the past two years, a member of the Rhodes University Chamber Choir. Their artistic journey extends deeply into theatre and live performance, with appearances in productions such as Yeda by Thembani Buka, Ityala Lamawele by Siphosethu Jente, National Arts Festival productions with Kwantu Designs, Camagu in Symphony alongside Msaki, and Imvuselelo: Kwantlandlolo by Sange Mpambani and Ezona Njokweni. They have also been part of Breathe Production from Season 1 through to Season 3 under Kgalalelo Creatives. Rooted in storytelling, performance, and cultural expression, Stassia proudly identifies as a Black queer South African artist whose work continues to explore identity, community, spirituality, and the transformative power of art. Turning 23 this year, they stand among a new generation of creatives shaping contemporary South African performance with honesty, elegance, and fire.
Thembisa Dube (Soprano), is a 23-year-old aspiring artist, born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa. Deeply immersed in the worlds of music and design, she expresses her creativity through songwriting and piano playing, often using her music as a powerful instrument for connection. Beyond her musical pursuits, Thembisa finds inspiration in a variety of interests, from the intrigue of true crime documentaries to the rhythmic movement of dance. She even brings her artistic touch to everyday life through the intricate craft of plaiting her own hair. Driven by an appreciation for all the beautiful things the world has to offer, she leads with love and kindness. With a profound faith in the power of community, she cherishes the support and beauty it offers, which fuel her journey as a growing artist.
Sello Prince Lebudi (Music Director), is a multi-versed individual, born and raised in Mpumalanga, KwaMhlanga. He is currently pursuing an Honours degree in Computer Science while equally dedicating himself to music. Balancing both worlds, his work reflects creative expression, using music as a space to explore emotion, identity, and storytelling.
Bakoena Rashaga (Electric guitarist), is a BSc student majoring in Biochemistry and Microbiology. They are a hardworking and determined individual with a profound passion for scientific discovery. They are deeply committed to academic excellence and the pursuit of practical, hands-on skills. Beyond the lab, they are an accomplished guitarist with a decade of experience, having nurtured a growing talent and love for music since childhood. Driven by a constant desire for self-improvement, they strive to bring their best to every endeavour, personal and professional.
Sinesipho Geelbooi (Drummer) is a well-rounded musician with a deep love for good music. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cape Town and is currently pursuing his Master’s. They have worked on a number of projects, including playing alongside big artists like Hotstix, and on Breathe and with Access Music Project in Makhanda.
Thamsanqa Dlamini (Pianist), is an aspiring musician and music teacher with a PGCE from Rhodes University and a Bachelor’s in Music from the University of Fort Hare. He blends Western and traditional South African styles, specializing in jazz piano and bass guitar. Thamsanqa has shared the stage with artists like Andile Yenana, McCoy Mrubata, Dumza Maswana, Zain SA, Zuko SA, Kwanda, and 047 at the National Festival in Makhanda. He’s passionate about cross-cultural projects that connect people.
Siyabulela Mfuku (Saxophonist) a Makhanda Jazz Saxophonist and Alumnus of Access Music Project, a teacher in his own right, teaching the saxophone to young musicians from around Joza in Makhanda (where he grew up). He has played in bands that have closed for the likes of Zakes Bantwini, he has also played alongside Ntate Sipho Hotstix Mabuse. He is a multi-instrumentalist and a composer, whose style can only be described as boundary-breaking and intentionally soul-capturing.
Bulelani Mfuku (Bassist) is an Makhanda-based musician passionate about teaching and exploring the complex field of music theory. An unconventional bassist, he takes bass playing to a different universe; his playing is not grounded in any normalcy, and he draws inspiration and style from Michael Pipoquina and Jaco Pastorius. He has played in many bands with his twin brother; with genres ranging from reggae to Jazz Fusion.
Dr Elijah Madiba (Sound Engineer), is far more than an academic; he is a visionary architect of cultural preservation. At the International Library of African Music (ILAM), he stands at the vital intersection of history and technology, serving as a master sound engineer, digitisation leader, and a guiding light in Ethnomusicology. With unwavering commitment to the continent's heartbeat, Dr Madiba led the monumental ILAM–SAMAP project, breathing new digital life into thousands of irreplaceable recordings. He doesn't just study music; he lives it. A gifted multi-instrumentalist and virtuoso of the musical arts, he is dedicated to ensuring that the echoes of African heritage are never silenced, but instead amplified for generations to come.
Kuhle Nqezana (Audio Engineer), a multidisciplinary artist, broadcaster, researcher, and director working at the intersection of music, media, and African knowledge systems. His work bridges creative practice and scholarly inquiry, with a strong focus on ethnomusicology, digital storytelling, and cultural preservation. He is the founder of a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and funding artists in South Africa, advancing access, sustainability, and creative opportunity within the cultural sector. Kuhle is also a distinguished media practitioner and documentary producer. As Head Producer for the International Library of African Music (ILAM) podcast series, he has played a vital role in amplifying Africa’s sonic heritage. His work includes a landmark documentary for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), reflecting his ability to craft narratives with global resonance. A Mellon Scholar and Indigenous Knowledge Systems researcher, he is among the first researchers contributing to what is now known as the HERE Lab, a platform exploring the intersections of sound, identity, and ecology within African contexts. His extensive media career includes leadership roles as Programming Manager at two community radio stations, News Editor at a community broadcaster in Gqeberha, and Producer for SAFM’s Arts Update, demonstrating a sustained commitment to community-centred broadcasting and culturally grounded storytelling. A two-time Ovation Award-winning artist and director, Kuhle has made a significant impact on South Africa’s arts landscape. His work as Video Director for the National Arts Festival’s Masicule, alongside his roles as an Ovation Awards Judge, sound engineer, and deejay, reflects a dynamic practice that bridges creativity, research, and cultural preservation.
Mziwamadoda Makalima (Film Editor), is a versatile media specialist with a broad creative and technical portfolio. His professional background spans journalism and public service, having worked for newspapers, radio stations, and municipal PR departments. Beyond his corporate experience, he is an accomplished sound engineer, music producer, and rapper. His technical skill set is rounded out by expertise in graphic design, photography, videography, and web design.
