Founder and Artistic Director, iPhuphu Lika Biko Global Institute

Nhlanhla Ngqaqu is a cultural organizer, composer, and arts-based advocate with over a decade of experience using music and dialogue as tools for social justice, political education, and community mobilization. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of iPhuphu Lika Biko Global Institute, where he leads creative initiatives that engage communities in critical conversations. He also leads Amanzi Sessions, an advocacy platform that creates alcohol-free spaces combining music, storytelling, and dialogue to address gender-based violence, harmful social norms, and community healing.

Nhlanhla holds an Honours degree in Composition and a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of the Witwatersrand. His work has been recognized with awards including the Standard Bank Gold Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival.

Rise Up Together Cohort: South Africa, 2026