Busisiwe Ngqukumba: From Qunu to Influencer Stardom, Aspiring MC Adds Entrepreneur to Her Journey

Born in the historic village of Qunu, known as the home of Nelson Mandela, Busisiwe “Bucie” Ngqukumba is determined to carve out her own legacy. “I want to make Qunu known for me too and change the narrative,” she says. Her upbringing in Qunu and later schooling at Mount Nicholas, a Catholic boarding school in Libode, shaped the person she is today. “Mount Nicholas had a big influence on who I’ve become,” she adds.

Bucie’s educational journey took her from the remote village to Byletts in East London, where she encountered numerous challenges. Eventually, she returned to finish high school at Khanyisa, a private school that lacked basic resources like electricity. Despite these hurdles, Bucie remained focused on her goals.

No Role Models, Just Bucie—And a Little Bonang

While many people look up to well-known figures for inspiration, Bucie has always charted her own path. “I don’t really have role models,” she admits, “but I do see myself in Bonang. It’s in the way she articulates herself. I want to be myself, but I want to be her too.”

Her passion for public speaking emerged early on, with her classmates recognizing her as the one to beat during school orals. “I saw my potential in public speaking as early as grade 7,” Bucie recalls. “Orals were my favorite part of school, and my classmates knew no one dared to speak after me because I was that girl. This confidence pushed her to pursue bigger opportunities.

From YouTube to Charity Work

Bucie’s career took off when she began presenting WSU Campus Crush on YouTube, a move that rapidly boosted her popularity. “I got popular, bagged gigs from there, and I never looked back,” she says. This platform helped her land MC roles and opened doors to even more opportunities.

Her career, however, is about more than just personal success. Bucie takes pride in her charity work, particularly a project that saw her pressuring the government to provide shelter for an elderly woman in her village. “I was heard in less than a week, thanks to social media,” she explains. “Helping others is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done.”

That project was also a learning experience. “It was challenging because I had to articulate myself in a way that wouldn’t damage my reputation while putting pressure on the government,” she shares. “It taught me the value of patience and humility, even if it meant repeating the same thing.”

A Vision for the Future

Now, with her newly added title of entrepreneur, Bucie remains focused on shaping her future self. “I envision the person I want to be and eliminate everything that isn’t it,” she says. For Bucie, there are no limits: “The sky is no longer the limit. We can accomplish anything as long as we’re alive.”

At just 23, Busisiwe Ngqukumba is already making waves across multiple fields, from influencing and public speaking to charity work and entrepreneurship. With her drive and determination, the world is certainly paying attention to what she holds.