Nkosenathi Ernie
Koela

Nkosenathi Ernie Koela (@Mntana_WeXhwele) is a Ph.D candidate specializing in indigenous music therapies at the University of Cape Town. Koela’s trans-disciplinary practice encompasses being an Afrikan indigenous sound medium, artist, specialist and teacher. Koela as an instrument maker and multi-instrumentalist, explores how healing practices through sound, creates space that manifests spiritually and materially. Koela has been a performer and instrumentalist for over 18 years and plays multitude of indigenous instruments from around the world. He also teaches others how to make and play traditional instruments with strong emphasis on the instruments h’story, spiritual significance and importance.

Koela is a co-founder of Kwasukesukela Arts Collective, has worked with the ICA,  Bridges for Music Academy, lectured at SACM University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University &  Music School of UFRN Brazil, teaches music at Beautiful Gate in Phillipi, worked with Msaki, lelive (Amanda Du Pont), Brett Bailey,Iman Person, Platoon fm, Imiso ceramics Sethembile Msezane, Andile Dyalvane and Southern Guild Gallery. Koela has  toured  around  Africa and the world as a teacher and performer. Most importantly he has worked to retain the ancient song-line of Africa. By being a cultural custodian of African indigenous knowledge systems and sound technology.

Nkosenathi Ernie Koela was selected as part of “Oscillations”, a project by Akademie der Künste (Berlin) Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape (Cape Town) and Deutschlandfunk Kultur / Klangkunst (Berlin). He will be in Berlin in October 2023 with a scholarship from the DAAD Arts and Media Program.

Oscillations is funded by the TURN2 Fund of the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation). Funded by the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media). Supported by the DAAD Arts and Media Program, Kulturstiftung Schloss Wiepersdorf, and the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS).