Bongani Justice Kubheka was born in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa. He commenced his opera training at the University of Cape Town in 2010 and completed his Diploma in 2014, studying voice with Patrick Tikolo and Kamal Khan. During his studies, Bongani Justice Kubheka received invitations to participate in courses at the Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artist Programme (YAVA). In September 2015, he was awarded a scholarship to further his studies at the Welsh International Academy of Voice, under the mentorship of Dennis O’ Neill, sponsored by the Wales Millennium Centre for the 15/16 season. In Cardiff, he received masterclasses from renowned singers such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Della Jones, Susan Bullock, John Rownsley, Ryland Davis, and conductors like Richard Bonynge, Julian Smith, Gareth Jones, and Anthony Negus.

His opera roles in collaboration with Cape Town Opera included Luther and Crespel (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Commendatore (Don Giovanni), Don Magnifico (La Cenerentola), Don Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Lord Sydney (Il viaggio a Reims), The Puppet Master (Postcard from Morocco), and Dottore Grenvil (La traviata). In 2015, he performed the title role in Le nozze di Figaro directed by Angelo Gobbato. His remarkable portrayals of Don Pasquale and Uberto in La Serva Padrona earned him the Fleur Du Cap award for Best Male Opera Singer.

Opera engagements such as Sweeny Todd and Eugen Onegin at Staatsoper Hannover, Dreieinigkeitsmoses (Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny) at Teatro Regio di Parma, De Vlaamse Opera, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, and Melot (Tristan und Isolde) at Opéra National De Lorraine were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Bongani Justice Kubheka starred as Marcelo in La bohème during the Cape Town Opera National tour under the baton of Jeremy Silver. He was also invited by Teatro La Fenice in Venice to perform the role of Don Fernando in Fidelio.

Since 2022, he has been involved in the Playhouse Company’s production of Handel’s Messiah, with a revival scheduled for the 2023/24 season. Other roles this season include Sacristan in Tosca at Joburg Theater and the Artscape Opera House, followed by Gcina in Nkoli: The Vogue-Opera at the Market Theatre.

Bongani Justice Kubheka is an award-winning artist, securing 1st prizes from the Schock Foundation (Baxter Theatre) in 2013, the Amazwi Omzansi Africa Opera Competition in 2014, reaching the finals of Operalia 2015 in London, winning 1st prize and the audience prize at the Stuart Burrows International Competition 2016, 1st prize at ATKV competition 2018, 2nd prize in Neue Stimmen Competition 2019, and the Emmerich Smola Sponsorship Award (1st prize) of the “SWR Junge Opernstars“ Competition 2020.