Nokwanda Mabuza

“I may have left the army, but the army never left me.”

Nokwanda was born in Swaziland and moved to Lisbon at the age of 8. She always knew she wanted to make a difference and after finishing high school, she joined the army. Nokwanda served for 10 years and was deployed to various parts of the world including Iraq and Afghanistan. She loves to dance and finds it helps her clear her mind. Nokwanda is currently working on opening a dance studio in her neighborhood.

What made you want to join the army?

I wanted to serve my country and also challenge myself to be a better version of me.

Tell us more about your dance studio.

I want to create a safe space for kids and adults to express themselves through dance. It's an art form that has helped me a lot and I want to share that with others.