AYANDA ELEKI, bass

Born in Port Elizabeth, Ayanda Eleki grew up in the Eastern Cape Province where he developed his music skills as a chorister. As a teenager, he performed as a baritone soloist in Songs of Praise under the baton of Mr Richard Kok. He later moved on to Gauteng and was a resident Opera Chorus at the Opera Africa in Pretoria. He then moved to join the equally successful Voices of the Nation where he was a bass soloist and a freelance opera singer in Isango Ensemble Institution respectively. He also went on to sing with this institution in highly successful opera tours to Italy, Japan, Australia, Austria, France, Germany and America.

His repertoire includes but is not limited to the roles of Priest in Zauberflöte, Prince Mnyayisa in Princess Magogo, General in Aida, Alcindoro in La boheme, Carmen, Noye’s fludde – opera by Benjamin Britten. Additionally, he has performed in musicals: Venus and Adonis, Ragged Trousered Philanthropist and Aesop's Fables.

Ayanda Eleki made his debut as Sarastroi in Die Zauberflöte at the Tollwood festival in Nunich (Germany). He also performed a solo as Bangindawo in Madiba the African Opera. He performed a role of Pete Quince in Midsummer night’s dream and Escamilo, Carmen in London.

At present he is based in Pretoria as a freelance artist.