Born in Mpumalanga, Phumzile Simelane Kalumba, graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1998 with a BCom degree. She lived in the North East of England with her family for 7 years. Whilst there, she developed interest in South African Bantu names. She is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in the Department of Xhosa, University of Western Cape with special interest in onomastics, which is part of African folklore.