Bellah Nxumalo’s is an exceptional woman, who is well grounded with a down-to-earth temperament whose belief in herself has allowed her to live fully.

Bellah’s Early Years

Born in Limpopo, her parents moved to Johannesburg when she was in Grade 3. Growing up in the township of Alexandra in the northern region of the great metropolis, she completed her primary and high school education, gaining entrance to study Social Sciences at the University of Cape Town.

It seems as if she was led on this path, as it was at this time that Bellah renewed her faith and found Christianity. Moving to the mother city was a freeing experience for this young lady. Like any teenager she thrived without the protective wings of her parents, doing what any young person does – going out, socialising, clubbing and having fun.

Moving Towards God

It all came to a head when she realised she wanted more from life. A chance meeting with students from YMCA opened a path that she has followed since then.

‘I thought that to be a Christian I had to be perfect.’

With the teachings of a pastor, Bellah fell in love with the Christian way of life and gave her life to Jesus. So focused on this path and soon grew tired of partying the hours away and realised she wanted her life’s work to be in the church. At this time she had started teaching herself to play the piano, immersing herself in the love of music.

Finding Meaning through Music

She returned to Gauteng to start her life as a recruitment officer in Pretoria, then moving to Johannesburg, all the while keeping her faith focused in her religion. It was in the church that she ‘learned to play the recorder and is now learning to play the guitar as well as a bit of drums.’

‘Life led me to music,’ she says, looking at me with an honest, open gaze. In addition to playing four instruments, this young lady is the assistant music director at her parish and is also a member of the choir. In fact, her love of music took her to audition for Idols where she made it through to the second round.

Although she didn’t make it to the finals, this young lady is so determined to pursue her love of music that she has already written several songs and will soon be going on to record them with the help of her friends, who encourage her talent.

‘I’ve been involved in music from a young age.’

Bellah Finds her Niche

In order to make time for music and her greatest love, God, Bellah started her own recruitment company, Mokibelo Recruitment Solutions, in December last year. Although it has been challenging, especially with regard to building new client relationships, she is looking at opening another branch in Port Elizabeth.

Now that she works for herself, it allows her the time to be part of a group that instructs young children between the ages of four and five at a school in music theory. The new school, called Nokuphila, is situated in Tembisa and was started by the Christ Church in Midrand. It has 45 students, some of whom are HIV positive or whose parents and families are affected by the virus.

Nokuphila School for HIV Affected Children

While the school is still new, there are plans to turn it into a primary school and eventually into a high school where pupils will be encouraged to partake in the art of music as part of the curriculum. Although bemused at the lack of support for arts in South Africa, Bellah is positive that music plays an important role in the stimulation and mental growth of children.

‘We can already see how the children have a passion for music and dance.’

The school is run by volunteers who rely on donations for the general upkeep of the school as well as to buy the children instruments, such as the newly-acquired drums. In the same vein, Bellah hopes to reach out to the parents of the children, especially the women and impart her love of music and faith.

Reaching Out to Women Everywhere

Part of her curriculum at university involved gender studies and sociology and she hopes to encourage women to speak out against violence and abuse as active participants in our society.