We recently connected with Linga Ndambasha and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Linga thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I was just a little 3rd grader when I wrote my first book. It wasn’t a New York Times best-seller— but it since it was about an adventure in a tropical jungle, I’m sure it was page turner! The book was called “lost in the jungle” a very original name, indeed. The book I wrote was part of a program designed to help students to get into the practice of publishing their projects. The program made me fall in love with writing and helped me realize that I had both a gift, and an opportunity to grow my gift into something that could creatively impact the world.

I wrote my first song ever, just a year later. It was a love song- apparently I had plenty of heartbreak and drama to navigate in the fourth grade. At the end of that year I filled an entire song book with ideas and melodies and lyrics. By the time I was in middle school, I realized that I enjoyed the cadence of rap and began to try my hand as a rapper. I wrote hundreds of songs, in convenient timing too— that year virtually every boy at my school decided they were going to be rappers as well. With so many potential rappers it was decided (by whom, I couldn’t tell you) that the only way to be an official rapper in Casa Grande, was to continuously win rap battles. By the end of the 8th grade, I had rap battled every rapper at my school and won. Undefeated.

Admittedly, I think I won unintentionally. Back then I didn’t believe in my gift. While I knew I had the ability, I felt I had a lot to learn before I could ever be successful, and yet I dreamed of the day that writing music and writing books could be my life.

This dream led me to be bold and enter into an arts focused competition called Fine Arts. Even though I had major stage fright- I performed my song, a unique combination of rapping and singing over piano, and to my surprise I won an award and made it to nationals. It was this moment that made me realize that my dream wasn’t just wishful thinking, it was possible.

Linga , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As an artist I create music with the intention of motivating, inspiring, and uplifting people. I write from the perspective of my faith in God and my desire to be a positive influence in the world. I want people to listen to my music on game day. I want people to play my music as they hit their last set at the gym. I hope people to play my music right before that big interview. I want people to play my music whenever they’re feeling low and need a pick me up. I pray that people play my music on the days they need to believe in themselves just a little more. In world where the most popular music is about sex, money, and drugs- I wanted to have a different, hopeful message. I feel most like myself creatively when rapping and singing songs that are hype.

As a writer, aside from an occasional lifestyle blog, the majority of the writing I do is for an initiative I created called It Was At Church. The aim of this initiative is to address the problem of racism that keeps occurring in church environments without acknowledgement or accountability. In 2020, I made an bleak observation. The 9+ years I had worked full-time and volunteered in ministry environments, were woven together by one unfortunate thread. Racism. There wasn’t a year I worked or volunteered in a church that I didn’t experience racism by proxy. From white peers using the n-word, to pastors making fun of my unique (and beautiful) long African name, or shaming the darkness of my skin— I experienced it all. And it wasn’t just me- countless of my POC peers in ministry reported similar experiences that went without acknowledgment, let alone change. This ignited a passion in me to see this problem end, and I write articles that are meant for equipping and educating people about this common injustice and how to stand against it as an ally.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I want to inspire people! I aim to motivate people to take big risks and believe in themselves even if doing so is against the odds. I believe that people are resilient and strong- and in what I write, and what I create, I aim to remind people of their strength- of their potential, and of the truth that the best is yet to come.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn what success would mean to me. It is my belief that as a creative with dreams to change the world, what I really want isn’t eyes. What I want is impact.

Eyes come and go. I would always be a slave to what’s trending and what the crowd is saying to keep the eyes on me.

But Impact is eternal.

More eyes doesn’t necessarily mean more impact. Sometimes, more eyes means more criticism.

Impact isn’t directly connected to popularity. But impact is directly connected to substance.

Success to me is not how many eyes see my gift, success is the fact that people (or even just one person) are being impacted by the substance of my gift.

I’ve decided:
To hell with the trends.
I want to make something with substance.
I want to build something that impacts!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lingatheboss.com/links
• Instagram: @lingatheboss
• Other: www.itwasatchurch.com

Image Credits
Photo credit to Jayda Iye.