15 Apr 2025

Pamela Nothando Bhulu, popularly known by her stage name Nomina, has carved a path where success follows naturally. 

With a career marked by consistent achievements and milestones, the Motswana-Germany-based singer and songwriter who also has roots in Zimbabwe, boasts international collaborations with renowned artistes such as Sean Kingston, Mendel and Slam, and most recently, Nokwazi Dlamini. 

Her discography includes successful solo tracks like Luthando and the widely celebrated, Don’t Cry Africa. However, every success story has a humble beginning and hers is no different. 

“My mother influenced my love for music. We would watch choirs sing every Sunday. And my uncles, they would sing every Christmas. I found it so beautiful. So, yeah, I grew up surrounded by music,” she fondly recalled. 

Nomina’s first professional release came in 2016 with a remix cover of Mamaland, originally performed by the legendary Yvonne Chaka Chaka. The track became a hit on Facebook, significantly boosting her global visibility. 

“It went wild on Facebook, and that’s when I realised I had to deliver more music,” she said.

From there, her career continued to soar.  A major highlight was her performance at the World Peace Berlin in September 2021, a cause for which she was also appointed ambassador.  One of her standout creations, Don’t Cry Africa, a collaboration with German-Indonesian producer, Orchidan Waworka, resonated globally, even catching the attention of Voice of America.

“Basically, everyone was talking about it,” beamed the Afro-Pop artiste, reflecting on the song’s widespread impact and how it encouraged many Africans through its powerful message. However, the journey has not been without its challenges.

As an independent artiste, Nomina faced a particularly tough year when she was unable to release new music while awaiting the launch of a track with international superstar, Sean Paul. 

“I didn’t release any music for the whole year, waiting for the release of the song. Month after month, there were issues that needed resolving. I eventually discovered that the agency I was working with wasn’t right for me. When push came to shove, I had to find other strategies instead of remaining stagnant,” she revealed. 

Nomina emphasised the importance of having a loyal and supportive team. 

“You meet people along the way, and sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Then you have to start afresh, and that’s okay. It’s not easy to build a brand, but you just have to work hard and rebuild,” she said. 

Looking ahead with optimism, the songstress expressed excitement about her upcoming Extended Pla titled, Angel, set to be released on May 3 in Botswana. She describes it as a soulful yet dance-worthy project. She also shared her aspirations to collaborate with some of Botswana’s biggest names, including A.T.I, Han-C, and rising star, Lioness Ratang, whom she described her style as bold and original. 

“I want to connect with Batswana. My father is from Maitengwe. This is my home, I grew up here, and I love it here, you know,” said Nomina.

As part of her latest releases, she’s dropped two songs from the EP titled Destiny, featuring Nokwazi Dlamini and Ebusuku featuring DJ SK.  ENDS