Musician and songwriter Empress, whose real name is Akhona Amanda Ntantiso, knows all too well about encountering setbacks in life and patiently waiting for your turn.
When she was on the cusp of a breakthrough in her fledgling career after being discovered by Kwaito legend Eugene Mthethwa of Trompies fame and working on releasing her first project, she ended up on a bus home to Komani from Johannesburg when the country went into the Covid-19 lockdown.
She also lost her “best friend”, her mother, Thozama Beauty Ntantiso, in 2023.
But her resilience has seen the now 35-year-old mom recently release her first single, Zizojik’izinto (Things will get better), an Afropop tune.
The song, now on digital streaming platforms, was inspired by her own life story and witnessing the struggles young people are facing.
The message I’m trying to convey is ‘do not give up’
One of her closest relatives took her own life in 2017. They grew up together in Ezibeleni township and were like sisters.
“Being a young person in this country is not easy.
“My mother passed away in May 2023. It hit me so hard ... She was my everything,” she said.
“The message I’m trying to convey is ‘do not give up’.
“Many young people are not patient; they want things to happen now.
“But God is there, your ancestors are there, plus we have different journeys.
“Be patient, pray, your situation is not permanent.”
Ntantiso was introduced to music by her father, Mzwandile Ntantiso, who listened to a vast collection of music.
“After school I’d whip out his cassettes and listen to them.
“I sang along and would write the lyrics down.”
She grew up idolising Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child.
Like her heroine, her talent is not limited to one music genre. She delves into gospel, amapiano, qqom, house, Afropop, hip-hop, R&B and even jazz.
After matriculating from Maria Louw High in Komani, she enrolled for a business management and public relations course because her parents were concerned that a career as a musician was risky.
She also joined a local group called Ukhanyo Youth Organisation doing dancing, singing, acting and poetry.
She later hooked up with Kasi Fusion, founded by 2024 Dispatch Local Hero finalist Siya Qwalela.
Earlier in 2025, she released an EP called The Old Me.
In 2011, after not being able to complete her studies, she relocated to Johannesburg.
“My friend’s boyfriend had a birthday [party]. My brother was in Johannesburg.
“I went there and did not come back,” said Ntantiso, who ended up working as a call centre agent.
She subsequently met a DJ who was one of her brother’s friends.
He worked with international companies and sold his music online. The pair recorded songs that were never released.
A friend later introduced her to someone who worked with the legendary DJ Ganyani and they did an amapiano song together.
A while later, someone told her about Throne Empire Music, owned by Mthethwa, which was looking for new talent.
She was eventually signed.
“I was supposed to release an EP called Live Your Life and then Covid-19 happened and I had to go back home.
“When I went back, I learnt the company had run into financial difficulties and had to release us [from our contracts].”
Daily Dispatch
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