November 9 2022

PRINCE Chonco, an international travelling evangelist, inspirational and motivational speaker, says it is by God’s grace that he is doing well in music.

The upcoming artist’s gospel music song, I Praise You Name, is making waves not only in this country but in Turkey, Ghana, Zimbabwe ,Australia, Nigeria and the US.

Chonco is from Ntabamhlophe, a village near Estcourt in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and was raised by his mother, Ntombifuthi Zakwe, to whom he attributed most of his success, living in an extended family.

“I never dared to even dream of becoming a musician. My music career started when the pandemic surfaced last year. “I considered taking a leap of faith in the music industry,” said Chonco.

“My whole life, I planned around becoming an inspirational and motivational speaker. Just as I had realized that dream, I was invited as a guest speaker at the Playhouse in Durban, together with the director of Siziba Acting Agency, Aynda Sibiya. Little did I know that our paths crossed for a reason.”

Ayand was impressed with Chonco’s skills. He asked him to facilitate acting workshops for his agency.

Chonco was introduced by Mr Mlungwana to acting after speaking at Play house which led him to meeting a movie editor Encore Daca, two went on to later work together on numerous projects. Chonco found himself seated in the Daca’s house and to his surprise, there was a recording studio.

“I had put together a song with the title – I Praise Your Name Oh God, and when I saw the studio, I asked if I could use it that is how I got into music, and later on I was featured in London Recruits, a UK-based movie’’, He said.

Being an Evangelist Chonco worked with National TV (SABC2) from 2018 todate on the Motheo programme conduction morning prayers before the Morning Live News begins.

“Growing up, I was artistic. A memory that stands out for me is when I painted pictures and sent them to Radio Zulu (now called Ukhozi FM) for a children’s programme. They would describe my paintings to the listeners and being credited was surreal.”

Chonco first pursued engineering studies at the Mangosuthu University of Technology without success, but later thrived in mechanical engineering studies at Swinton College. After completion, he soon landed a job in the automotive industry.

After getting a job he enrolled for at Varsity College to do his Project Management and after completing it he saw it fit to pursue another course in Operations Management a year later in the same College. Chonco said he had a passion for technology and robots. He also completed a course on Robotics and Mechatronics. During the rise of Covid 19 he decided to enroll for Pandemic Management and did other 8 certificates in the likes of Leadership and Management in Infection Prevention and Control, Pandemic Communication Essentials for the Members of State , Infordecics Management and etc. He has successfully completed his Specialized Management Development Program He is now working towards a Master of Business Administration at the Regent School of Business.

Chonco has been nominated in music awards in Cape Town as a Best Public Speaker, Best Song Writer and for the Best worship song “Khazimula”

His music career is taking another Hight as he has been appointed as an Ambassador of Nigeran Reggae Festival in the month of August 2022. Which means that he will pave a way for more South African musicians will find a chance to perform in Nigeria.