Award-winning actress, singer, and cultural champion Nelisiwe Sibiya is marking a major career milestone after her company, Emandulo House of Culture and Heritage, earned first runner-up status in the Crafters division at the Durban Tourism Business Awards held this past weekend.
- Emandulo House earns runner-up recognition at Durban Tourism Business Awards
- What Emandulo House offers
- Sibiya’s mission: cultural advocacy beyond acting and music
- “Strength, integrity, courage and commitment”
- Challenges, community support, and what’s next for Emandulo House
- Running the business while filming
- Where Emandulo House is based and how tourists are welcomed
- Empowerment is part of the purpose
- Plans for next year and advice for young entrepreneurs
Emandulo House earns runner-up recognition at Durban Tourism Business Awards
Sibiya’s Emandulo House took home second place behind Amabheshu Innovators, but the performer still described the result as a proud moment following the ceremony.
Best known for her work in South Africa’s entertainment industry, Sibiya has been steadily building a tourism and culture-focused business aimed at preserving and highlighting isiZulu traditions, heritage, and values.
Originally set up as a cultural consultation and education space, Emandulo House was created to help people understand traditional customs and ceremonies while offering genuine cultural learning.
What Emandulo House offers
- Guidance for those looking to understand isintu before participating in traditional ceremonies.
- Support with traditional attire.
- Coordination of cultural activities.
- Creation of safe learning spaces where young people can absorb values such as ubuntu, respect, and proper conduct.
Sibiya’s mission: cultural advocacy beyond acting and music
While many people know her primarily as an actress and musician, Sibiya insists her deepest passion is cultural preservation—and she treats the award as more than a professional accolade.
She explained that her calling goes beyond performing: she wants to use the platform she has built in entertainment to protect and teach culture. In her view, Emandulo House exists to safeguard isintu for future generations.
“Strength, integrity, courage and commitment”
Sibiya framed the Durban Tourism Business Awards recognition as a reflection of resilience and determination, stressing that building a business takes courage and long-term commitment.
- She said the win represents strength, integrity, courage, and dedication.
- She shared that starting the business has been difficult, particularly as a young Black woman entrepreneur.
- She revealed she was told some of her ideas were too big for her to manage, but the nomination and result gave her renewed confidence.
Challenges, community support, and what’s next for Emandulo House
Sibiya said the road to growth has involved financial strain and limited assistance, while balancing entrepreneurship with the demands of an acting career.
She noted that one of the hardest parts has been not receiving enough support to expand the business into something bigger. Still, she believes the award can open doors because she has a clear, ambitious vision for Emandulo House of Culture and Heritage.
Running the business while filming
On top of the financial and logistical obstacles, she described the pressure of managing both worlds. She said she is currently working on a new approach to make things easier, explaining that long filming days can delay her ability to respond to clients. Despite the strain, she added that she is learning daily how to sharpen her skills and juggle both careers.
Where Emandulo House is based and how tourists are welcomed
Emandulo House operates from Durban’s BAT Centre, where tourists frequently visit. Sibiya said the location gives the business an opportunity to showcase cultural beauty and the warmth of eThekwini.
- Visitors learn about crafts, their meaning, and how they connect to people and identity.
- Sibiya said tourists are often eager to learn, and the team is always ready to teach.
Empowerment is part of the purpose
Sibiya emphasized that community empowerment remains central to her mission. She pointed to the idea that a child is raised by the community, and she said that the same principle applies to business—adding that her success is tied to the people around her.
She also said that when she celebrates wins, she wants others in her community to benefit and succeed as well, reinforcing her belief that no one achieves alone.
Plans for next year and advice for young entrepreneurs
Looking ahead, Sibiya hinted that more opportunities may be coming, though she said she is not ready to share every detail. She stated that there is a strong chance Emandulo House of Culture and Heritage could be nominated in additional tourism categories next year.
She also offered encouragement to young women hoping to follow in her footsteps, warning that entrepreneurship can feel like a battle—sometimes even against oneself. Her message was that while the journey is tough, nothing valuable is easy, and the best way to stay grounded is to remember the dream that started the business.
She urged potential founders not to begin solely for money, but to choose something they truly love and care about—because even when plans change, passion can keep joy and purpose alive.
