Packhouse to performing: Bonginkosi is ready for his big break

At 31 years old, Bonginkosi Nkosi is making waves in the agricultural sector and hopes to do the same in the music world.

Based in Hermanus in the Western Cape, he has been working as the assistant packhouse manager at Haygrove Heaven Packhouse for over five years. With a career rooted in farming, Nkosi is excited to combine his passion for agriculture with his dream of making it in the music industry.

He recently entered the prestigious Agri’s Got Talent competition, an opportunity he hopes will open new doors.

“I’m excited about connecting and sharing some experience and ideas with the other candidates,” he says. “The most important day, I think, will be the last day at the grand finale. Hopefully, I am part of the top three, we’ll see.”

Nkosi’s ambitions extend beyond agriculture. “I have a dream in the music industry, so after I saw this opportunity, I thought that maybe it is the way for me to pursue that dream,” he shares.

When asked about his musical inspirations, Nkosi points to Lloyiso as his favourite artist. However, Nkosi’s musical background is deeply rooted in gospel music, a genre he holds close to his heart.

“My favourite music genre is gospel. It is due to my background. I grew up where the full force of my family was into gospel music. And also, when I’m listening to it or when I’m singing it, when I’m watching it, it fulfils my soul. It makes you feel way better as if you can overcome whatever challenges you are facing,” he explains.

However, Nkosi’s musical interests are not limited to gospel. He enjoys a variety of genres, something he plans to showcase during the Agri’s Got Talent finale.

‘Farming is a way of life’

Despite his musical dreams, Nkosi remains committed to his agricultural roots. “Farming is not just a job. It’s a way of life. I mean, we feed the nation. You get the chance to connect with nature and to connect with plants.”

Describing himself as kind and friendly, Nkosi enjoys travelling and, of course, singing in his free time. “I value my family and friends because we all need each other. We need to be there for each other,” he says. A surprising fact about him? “I also MC,” he adds with a smile.

Nkosi first heard about Agri’s Got Talent through his HR team, and after watching videos of previous participants on social media, he knew he had to enter. He hopes to use this platform not only to advance his music career but also to inspire young people to consider careers in agriculture and showcase how fun it can be.

“If we can inspire more people, we can fight this unemployment percentage rate. I also dream to grow in my career and [plan to combine] my love for agriculture and singing in the coming years.”

Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people that feed Mzansi.