Inam Somdaka (8 years old, Grade 3) has been playing the violin for three years now. Being a single mother is not always easy for mom Lucia, but seeing her daughter light up when she plays her violin, makes all worthwhile.

Come Sundays, you will find Inam and mom Lucia singing gospel at their local Church in Khayelitsha. Music is very much part of mother and daughter; therefore Inam’s love for the violin came naturally.

“She loves her violin,” says Lucia. “She was lucky to be chosen by Muzukidz to take part in this programme.”

As a single mother working as a domestic worker in a guesthouse in Oranjezicht, she has her own challenges, says Lucia. “Luckily I can rely heavily on the support of the other Muzukidz parents. They all feel like my family, and I can ask them any time to help with transport or looking after Inam when I cannot be on time.”

Lucia says her boss bought Inam’s first violin for her – something she is extremely grateful for. “He allows me time off to see her perform.”

“I want to play the violin until I am old,” says Inam. “The violin made me confident and helped me to overcome my stage fright. Now I can also do drama better.”

 “My heart was beating very fast, and I had a lot of butterflies in my tummy when we played for 5 000 people in Kirstenbosch,” she says.

Inam and mum Lucia