Before she became the voice trusted to carry the words of others in courtrooms, Lungi Ngaphi was a young girl navigating a world that had already tried to define her — through pain, rejection and silence. Long before the titles, the 22-year career and the public recognition, there was a story she had to learn to interpret for herself — one marked by moments many people choose never to speak about. A little seven-year-old girl who was hurt, raped, made to feel unworthy and told she would never amount to anything eventually chose a different path. Instead of allowing her pain to define her, she chose healing. She chose purpose. She chose to sing a new song. Today, Ngaphi is known as one of South Africa’s most respected court interpreters, with more than two decades of experience giving voice to others in some of the country’s most sensitive legal matters. Her work drew national attention in 2025 during the high-profile Judge Selby Mbenenge tribunal, where she interpreted for complainant Andiswa Mengo in a case that sparked widespread conversations around power, consent and sexual harassment. But beyond the courtroom, Ngaphi is also the author of I Will Sing a New Song — a deeply personal book reflecting on healing, pain, resilience and the belief that even after the darkest night, a new day will dawn. Through both her book and her work, she reminds people that life requires us to interpret every experience, whether good or bad, and to decide what we will do with it. In this moving exclusive interview with Africa Jamz FM News, Lungi Ngaphi opens up about the pain she carried as a child, the healing journey that followed, how her personal experiences shaped the woman and interpreter she became, and why she believes that no matter how dark life gets, there is always another song waiting to be sung. With 22 years of experience as an interpreter, Lungi Ngaphi came into the public spotlight when she interpreted in IsiXhosa for Andiswa Mengo at the Judge Selby Mbenenge Tribunal, where her work resonated deeply and captured the hearts of many South Africans. Picture: Supplied Finding meaning through life’s difficult moments Lungi shared that life asks us to find meaning in every experience we go through. As this sensitive conversation kicked off, she opened up about the moment she realised she needed to start seeing her own life differently. “I believe as soon as I noticed that life allowed me to be in a space of loss, rejection, being lied to, failure, and anger, that’s when I started interpreting my life,” said Lungi. The cover of Lungi’s book ‘I Will Sing A New Song’. Picture: Supplied Turning pain into a new song of strength Lungi spoke about a young girl who endured deep pain and rejection. As the conversation continued to unfold, she shared how she found the strength within herself to see things differently—to rise above it all and, as she beautifully put it, “sing a new song.” “First thing first it is to acknowledge that you are in pain and you are rejected by the very people you trusted. There is strength in speaking about what you think and feel. I embraced the fact that I am different, therefore there must be a different song from the song of sorrow,” said Lungi. On stage, Lungi uses her voice to inspire, uplift, and remind others of hope beyond their circumstances. Picture: Supplied How her past experiences shape her work today Lungi also delved into how her personal experiences have shaped the way she shows up in her work today as an interpreter. “Some of the cases I interpreted in have forced me to look at my past. Looking at my childhood past right into my adulthood past has taught me that no pain should define who I am. I became a mouthpiece of the seven-year-old in me that was raped and could not defend herself,” said Lungi. In addition to being an interpreter and author, Lungi is also a motivational speaker, presenter, MC, and voice-over artist. Picture: Supplied Lungi on what healing looked like for her In sharing her journey, Lungi reflected on what healing looked like for her, and how she gently began that process. “Healing is messy and it has always been messy. It never looked cute because I was required to go back to that dark room and face the pain head on. I then took my pen and notebook and started what I felt in writing. Writing became my therapeutic space. I wept a lot because I relieved every painful moment in writing,” said Lungi. Dressed in elegance and wearing a radiant smile, Lungi Ngaphi reflects beauty, strength, and joy. Picture: Supplied A message of hope for those walking through darkness As the conversation drew to a close, I asked Lungi one final question: Your book speaks about healing across all walks of life. What do you hope someone who has experienced darkness takes away from your story? This is how she responded: “Whoever reads my story, I hope they will find their story within my story and find the healing that they long for. I hope they will realise that what happened to them should never define them but rather find purpose in being alive. I hope they will apply the slogan I live by: ‘IPHUPHA ALIFI UMNIKAZI ESAPHILA’ (the dream does not die while the dreamer is still alive). My life is a mouthpiece for the voiceless,” said Lungi. If you would like to get a copy of Lungi’s book I Will Sing A New Song, you can WhatsApp, call, or SMS 067 312 3460 to place an order. The book is priced at R200, excluding Paxi delivery fees. 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