Kwanza Msingwana, born in Northern Transvaal, Azania (South Africa) in 1961, fled the Venda, one of the sham independent Bantustan homelands, went into exile and lived as a stateless, paperless person in Mozmbique, Tanzania and Kenya, where he was declared a "prohibited immigrant." He came to Canada in 1986. He has been writing short stories, poetry, folk tales and children's stories since 1989. He performs as a percussionist for the Usafari Drum and Dance Ensemble, the Gayap Rhythm Drummers and the Caribbean Folk Performers.