TODAY's youth are often labelled the lost generation, but young praise singer Bonga Siyoko knows exactly where he is going.

The University of Johannesburg accounting graduate says being in tune with his culture and making a living from his praise singing does not mean he is backward.

"I have been an imbongi since I was 10 years old back in my hometown of eDutywa in Eastern Cape," Siyoko says.

"I come from a family of praise singers. My mother, Nontembeko Siyoko, was an imbongi and my uncle is the well-known imbongi Zolani Mkiva.

"I am proud of my culture and my upbringing and I will not let anyone convince me otherwise," says Siyoko.

The 24-year-old says though his uncle has had a successful career as a praise singer, no one in his family ever encouraged him to become a praise singer.

"I guess they were concerned that had I become a praise singer I would not have gone to university. But I know that education is important. I am happy that I graduated and I am now studying for a post-graduate diploma in administration," he says.

Siyoko says when he came to Johannesburg to study in 2008 he knew he had to formalise his praise-singing business or else people might have taken advantage of him.

"I used clients from my earlier performances as references. It is often difficult to get bookings if prospective clients do not know you," Siyoko says.

But this has not deterred him and Siyoko keeps knocking on doors because he says some clients are open-minded and give him the benefit of the doubt.

"I am probably one of the few imbongis who are performing in the mainstream arts industry and I am proud of this. But I feel the previous generation of imbongis had more opportunities than my generation because, like my uncle Mkiva who was former president Nelson Mandela's official imbongi, they got international recognition," he says.

Though Siyoko has performed for both former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela, he feels there is room for growth in the industry.

"I use social media to promote myself, but I am wary of this medium because there is a lot of negativity, hate and discouragement from some people," he says.

Siyoko says he is proud to manage his own career and he keeps his brand alive by conducting media interviews and working with musicians.

"I am not branching out into music, but I feature in songs as an imbongi. I have worked with Phumeza Dlwathi, Mnqobi Mdabe and Ishmael Morabe. I will forever be grateful to Afro-soul singer Ntando Bangani, who gave me an opportunity to feature on his live DVD, A Night Out With Ntando, in 2008," he says.

Siyoko says he hopes that the government and corporate sector will this year book praise singers for more events instead of only during cultural holidays such as Heritage Day.

"As an imbongi I motivate people and feel I should be booked for any event that has an audience, not only for weddings and traditional ceremonies," he says.

Siyoko hopes to win a South African Traditional Music Award and to travel internationally to share his talent.

"For South Africans to know where we are going, we need to know where we come from. I am who I am because of my culture and I am not ashamed to be seen in my traditional garb in an urban setting," he says.

- motaud@sowetan.co.za