Biography
Artist • Actor • Musician • Music Director • Arts Manager
Themba Benjamin Ndala, professionally known as BigBenjie, is a South African multidisciplinary arts practitioner, musician, actor, music director, dancer, script developer and arts manager based in Winterveld, Gauteng. With approximately 35 years of experience across music, dance, poetry, drama, arts administration and management, he has dedicated his career to nurturing talent, strengthening community arts and creating opportunities for artists to develop their skills and livelihoods.
His artistic practice includes acting, composing songs for productions, directing music and choirs, developing scripts and choreographing dance. From 1997 to 2001, he contributed as a volunteer, actor, dancer and music director at Vulingqondo HIV/AIDS Centre. He later worked with the Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa as a volunteer mentor, where his responsibilities included script development, dance choreography, songwriting and choir direction. Between 2000 and 2002, he served as an actor and music director with the South African Artist Support Initiative, composing songs and assisting with script development.
Music remains a central part of his artistic journey. He is a professional musician and has performed vocal sessions for artists including Winnie Mashaba and Solly Moholo, as well as other local artists. He was a member of the Exodus Gospel Group from 2005 to 2017, recording five albums with the group and one solo live-recorded album.
Alongside his creative work, Ndala has built extensive experience in arts leadership and project management. He has chaired the Winterveld Arts and Culture Forum since 2014, served as a member of the Gauteng Arts and Culture Council from 2018 to 2021, and has managed arts and youth programmes, including the Youth Activation Week programmes in Limpopo in 2018 and 2019 and the Veza Ikhono Creative Workers project in Winterveld in 2024. Since 2016, he has also led BigBenjie Productions as Managing Director.
Through his artistic and leadership work, Ndala is committed to supporting emerging artists, encouraging collaboration, developing young people and helping the arts contribute to community wellbeing and economic opportunity. His work is rooted in the belief that creative expression can preserve culture, build confidence and bring communities together.
KEY ARTISTIC SKILLS
• Acting and performance
• Songwriting and music composition for productions
• Music direction and choir direction
• Script development
• Dance and choreography
• Poetry and multidisciplinary performance
• Arts project management and administration
• Artist development, mentoring and community arts leadership
