Biography
Zolani Mkiva was born in 1974 in Eastern Cape, South Africa. He went to the University of the Western Cape, where he obtained an undergraduate degree in social science, followed by another in development studies. In 1990, he served as a young imbongi, praise singer, at a welcome home rally for former President Nelson Mandela and went on to become Imbongi Yesizwe, Poet to the Nation. He was also the praise singer at Nelson Mandela’s Presidential inauguration in 1994 and subsequently became the President’s poet laureate. He is currently a member of the South African parliament.
