Nomina: Sunset journals and songs from the heart
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday April 20, 2026 06:00
That ease, the mixture of structure and play, runs through her music and life. Off stage, Gaborone sets the tempo for her. A typical day starts slowly. “When I am not performing, I chill at home, work on new music, or explore Gaborone’s vibes.” The city tour might be a cup of Rooibos tea with honey and lemon, a gym session, or a walk to clear her head. Most days she’s writing. Lyrics live everywhere for her, in voice notes, on napkins, in the margins of books.
She says Botswana is more than a backdrop. It is a source material. “Botswana’s beauty and culture inspire my music. I weave stories about life, love, and growth, stuff that resonates with people here and beyond.” You hear it in the way her songs strike a balance between intimacy and scale. A story about a quiet heartbreak still carries the wide-open feel of the Kalahari sky. Her style shifts with the setting. On stage, she is bold and deliberate. Off stage, comfort wins. “Off-stage, I am pretty laid-back. Think comfy jeans, sneakers, and loose tops. But I love expressing myself through fashion, so you might catch me in something bold.” She is a supporter of local designers like Nicoh Dichabe and Unah Scotch, and she’s just as happy hunting for standout finds around Gaborone. Asked what she plays when she is not recording, she laughs. “Honestly, when I am not doing music myself, I tend to take a break from music.” When she does press play, it is a mix: Bossanova playlists, Yo Maps, Siya, and a rotation of local artists she rates, including CyKe, Ezra Neething, Han C and Slam Lacazein. Abroad, she keeps Botswana close by streaming local radio stations. “Just to feel close to home.” Food is fuel but also memory for her. Before shows, she keeps it light with salads. If she’s in Botswana, she leans into Tswana cuisine. The real craving, though, is family. “Go-to meal’s got to be my sister’s homemade chicken stew. She cooks it best!” Unwinding depends on the day.
“Total silence, yoga stretch or a good book.” Her favourite corner tells you why. “My poolside, overlooking Gaborone’s sunset. Got a glass of wine, journal, and some plants.” That is where songs start, where verses untangle themselves without being forced. There is a philosophy under all of it, clear and unshowy. “I believe in living authentically and spreading positivity. It shows in my music and daily choices, hence my slogan: Inspiring For Change.” It is not branding. It is a check-in she uses for decisions, from lyrics to business moves. Touring has its rituals.
Two things never leave her bag: “Always pack my voice lozenges and my boots.” Voice care is practical and consistent. “I drink lots of water, do vocal exercises, and I also drink a hot lemon-ginger-honey mix.” With four global awards on the shelf, staying grounded matters. “My family and close friends keep me humble.” Wins are celebrated without spectacle. “Quiet dinner with loved ones and my team, maybe some champagne.” For younger artists watching her path, she strips it back to what matters.
“I would want them to see music as a journey, not just about charts. Create from the heart, stay true to yourself.” Spend an afternoon with Nomina, and you realise the glamour is real, but it is not the point. The point is the journal by the pool, the sister’s stew before a flight, the local radio keeping home on speed dial. The point is making music that feels like Rooibos with honey: warm, familiar, and good for you. That is the Nomina sound. That is the Nomina life.