There is something refreshing about meeting someone whose biggest achievement is not the loudest thing about them.
Spend a few minutes getting to know Nothando Ngcamphalala, better known as Bantu Nots, and the conversation quickly moves beyond event stages and bright lights. It turns to running at sunrise, choosing tea over alcohol after a successful show, building multiple income streams and learning to take responsibility for the life she wants.
For many people, she has become a familiar face at some of Eswatini’s biggest events. Yet away from the microphone, she is quietly building a lifestyle centred on wellness, discipline and personal growth.
It is a journey she never planned.
“I think the title of MC still surprises me. I still can’t believe this is where I am now. Who would have thought that three years ago I’d be on this path?”
The humility in that statement reflects someone who still sees herself as a work in progress rather than a finished success story.
Health has become one of the strongest themes running through her life.
What started as a fitness challenge has evolved into a complete lifestyle shift. Followers on social media have watched her remarkable weight-loss journey, something she credits largely to running and making healthier choices.
For Bantu Nots, running is about much more than physical fitness.
“Running truly saved my life and one of the biggest reasons I love this sport so much is the mental work it does for me.”
Whether life feels stressful or overwhelming, she has found peace in the quiet rhythm of the road.
“Tapping my shoes on that tar road, crisp air and nobody but me pacing through it has become like therapy.”
Another decision that has shaped her life came after starting the 75 Hard challenge in early 2025. During the programme, she stopped drinking alcohol. When the challenge ended, she simply never went back.
“I just found myself continuing with it. Here we are nearly 600 days later and I haven’t had a single drop.”
She is careful not to present her decision as a standard everyone should follow.
“We live in a society where we have normalised the misuse of the happy drink. It is important to step away from the masses and analyse your own personal relationship with it.”
Today, celebrations look different.
“When I’ve had a successful show, I just have tea instead,”
That same discipline carries into her professional life.
Three years ago, she could hardly have imagined becoming one of Eswatini’s recognisable masters of ceremony. Today, she continues to earn repeat bookings on major platforms while building a personal brand that stretches beyond the stage.
She believes being an MC is far more than introducing performers or reading through a programme.
“I take myself seriously. I understand the importance of what I do because the energy and tone of the overall event becomes my responsibility.”
Every stage demands preparation, confidence and the ability to adapt when things do not go according to plan.
One of her biggest tests came during an MTN MoMo Experience event when technical delays left the audience waiting for South African group The Soil. The crowd became restless and attention quickly shifted to the person holding the microphone.
“There was a bit of a delay just before The Soil performed, so the crowd was upset, so I tried to get them to sing and instead they resisted. I wanted to cry.”
Instead of giving up, she stayed on stage and continued engaging the audience until the mood eventually changed.
“A job is a job, and I didn’t give up. The result was beautiful because it turned into one of the most memorable moments for me.”
The experience reinforced lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom but through resilience and experience.
She says one of the reasons she has found success is because she has never tried to separate herself from her personality.
“I’ve always led with my personality in any job that I do, and it has seemingly worked out for me. I respect the brand that is MTN MoMo and I carry that with me at every event.”
Away from public appearances, entrepreneurship has become another important part of her identity.
Through Forever Living, she has built another source of income while continuing to promote wellness, something that naturally aligns with her personal lifestyle.
Rather than defining herself by one profession, she prefers to think of herself differently.
“I’m a business that has multiple layers.”
She believes entrepreneurship has taught her that financial freedom does not have to come from a traditional career path.
“My business has taught me that there are multiple ways to make money outside the conventional eight-to-five.”
The name Bantu Nots also carries a personal story. Inspired by the Bantu knots hairstyle she often wore growing up, it became a nickname from her older brother, Sizwe, playing on her first name, Nothando.
Today, it represents something much bigger than a hairstyle. It reflects a personal brand built around authenticity, resilience and a willingness to keep growing.
Asked how she hopes people remember her, her answer has little to do with fame.
“Even if there’s just one person who has come across my name or my journey and they can find inspiration and do something different about their lives, then I have done more than I could imagine.”
Whether someone starts running, rethinks their relationship with alcohol, builds another source of income or simply finds the confidence to chase a dream, she hopes her story encourages them to believe change is possible.
“I have big wants and dreams for myself, and I am responsible for that very success. I believe some things are simply delayed, not denied.”
