Bongiwe Nakani made her debut in 2013 as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia in a coproduction of the UCT Opera School and Cape Town Opera followed by Marchesa Melibea in the African premier of Il Viaggio a Reims. In 2015 performed Elisabetta in Maria Stuarda and created the role of Mrs Makeleni in the world premier of Four 30: Opera made in South Africa presented by UCT Opera School with Cape Town Opera. In 2016 she joined the Vienna State Opera ensemble and has since performed Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Filipyevna in Eugene Onegin, Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera, Annina in La Traviata, Third Lady in Die Zauberfloete, the Mother in Les Contes d’Hoffman, Marthe in Faust, Scwherlite in Die Walkure, Flosshilde in Rheingold and Die Gotterdammerung and Emilien in Alma Deutscher’s Cinderella as well as covering such roles as Dame Quickly in Falstaff and Azucena in Il Trovatore In 2019 she made her debut with the Vienna Volskoper as Maria in Porgy and Bess where she returns in 2020 for 3rd Lady in Die Zaeuberfloete Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Bongiwe Nakani started her interest in singing at 7 years old through her sister who use to take her to choir rehearsals and choral competitions. She became exposed to opera music in High School and solo parts in choir and was awarded first prize for three consecutive years at the Tirisano Eistedford School Choir Singing Competition. In 2009 she enrolled in a Performers Diploma degree at the South African College of Music, University of Cape Town Opera School under the training of Patrick Tikolo and Prof Kamal Khan. While at the Univeristy of Cape Town Bongiwe made her mark by winning the 2nd prize of the Shock Foundation Singing Comeptition. In 2012 she also took 2nd Prize and the Audience Prize at the Amazwi Omzantsi Singing Competition. In 2012 Bongiwe was Chosen to take part in the Glimmerglass Festival where she appeared in Lost in the Stars, Armida and Aida as part of the visiting student body from UCT Opera School and performed at the UN General Assembly Hall for Nelson Mandela Day. Bongiwe Nakani was 3rd Prize winner of the 2015 Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition, 2016 Finalist and Audience Prize at the Deborah Voight International Singing Competition. finalist at the Placido Domingo Operalia International Singing Competition in 2016.