User:MystiQ the Mysterious

= MystiQ The Mysterious =

Prolific Singer/Songwriter, and Entrepreneur.
Sonneke Duvenhage/Pypers professionally known as MystiQ the Mysterious was born on 18 March 1981 in Roodepoort South-Africa. She was raised on a farm by her mom, and dad with a younger brother just outside of Bela- Bela on plots named Kromdraai/ Sitrusvlakte. From a very young age already she loved the arts, always being creative and making things and music, she says she remembers how her mom used to sit with her by her organ, "do, re, me, fa, so, la, tee, do- my mom used to sing while teaching me the basics."

Playing on hearing only – she developed her own unique style and sense of music – till today she plays on hearing and composes her own music.

EARLY LIFE
She went to school in a small town called Leeupoort, near Thabazimbi. Farm life was different than growing up in town, and she had to travel to school by bus, all members of the family each had tasks that were to be completed at scheduled times for things to run smooth. When she started grade 8 she had to go to boarding school and only returned home on weekends and holidays. At 14 she was again catching the bus to High school in Bela-Bela Warmbaths. She wrote her matric in 1997 through correspondence, Success College Pretoria. MystiQ then had to complete three years in one – Today She is proud to say that although her marks was not the best, she was the only one that year to pass her senior certificate and the youngest at age 17.

FAMILY LIFE
She got married in 2000 and had two sons, Dylan (2001) and Brian (2004), and also adopted her step daughter (born 1998 - from her husband and his first wife) as her own. Whilst married she underwent terrible abuse for 13 years and trying to protect and safe her children from a life of abuse that were destroying them, she had to make some hard choices, due to very traumatic circumstances, leaving was the best way, she says, not only for her survival but her kids safety. Her mother passed away in 2013 and she was left broken as her pillar of strength was no longer there and the rest of the family estranged.

LESSONS
Her journey was long and hard, she endured a lot of pain and wears many scars. Rock bottom is where MystiQ was born, after suffering tremendous abuse, loss, pain, hunger, cold and darkness. It was only when she had nowhere to go and the streets had to be her home, that she realized just how blessed she still was. '“At least I had a partner who stood by me through this very rough time; others had to deal with their struggle alone. Every person, every soul is like a book, being judged by their cover, yet the beautiful, sad, and survival story on the inside is never read'. “She says, '“So sometimes we make mistakes and its OK!! It is also lessons. In life there is no better teacher than our mistakes”' The only people who reached out to help them with food shelter and eventually a roof over their heads were black people. “Yes in an informal settlement – A squatter camp!!!!” But she was no longer out on the street, at that time her writing, music and creatives was something that kept her going, she realized her mom was right and here she remembered who she was and what she loved. '“Suddenly my poetry became rap and words and beats just flew from my fingers and mouth – thanks to so many talented people all around me – and then I remembered how my mom used to say I cud do this! How she believed in me”'

She says that without the skills of life and love, how to deal with struggle and deception - the lies, the anger, the failures and the survival tactics taught to her by her mother, she would have never survived. '“The streets taught me how to survive, how to be strong and be a better version of me. It helped me see my purpose, and why all I endured was more a blessing than a curse. Whatever life deals on our road we must keep trying, never give up, you see, even a bird falls down but gets right back up and try again!! “'.

After losing years with her children she finally has them back. “'The System is corrupt; they turned on me and took the side of money and power! That cost me my most precious possession MY KIDS!”'  Today her boys are grown up at age 21 and 18 and back in her life. She also gained a member and now has two beautiful granddaughters. '“Christmas 2021 the greatest gift of all was mine as I had my kids all together again for the first time since I left their dad''. “''' She always made sure they knew how much they were missed and loved; assuring them they will re-unite one day. Her song a mother's heavy heart, is written for her kids. Years lost will never be replaced - Time is the most valuable gift anyone can give – ask a mother who lost years with her children.

CAREER
In November if 1997 She perused life in Germiston Gauteng, first as a cashier at Cleo’s Spar and then became a nursery school teacher in Elspark. "I have always been drawn to kids, and kids to me.” . She was also became special needs after care teacher for the junior kids and assisted with the seniors as well.

The music industry is full of amazing, talented, and great artists who have their own personal touch to make their art stand out of the rest. MystiQ the Mysterious has taken control of her fate with her passion for the arts, and music, launching her career as a musician officially in 2020 and started voluntary as A youth leader and motivational speaker. With her combined talent as a creative art and graphic designer, singer, songwriter and prolific writer, her artistry has been described as captivating, diverse, and astounding. '“I write from my personal experiences. But with equal importance, I like to use music as an outlet to help people who are experiencing various social and emotional issues and trauma every day in their life, not just in South-Africa but across the globe.”'  She is giving great value to the art and music world through her work and efforts.

In 2020 MystiQ also started to put together a team "The Dream Team " fin the idea of saving souls"  building a non-profit organization COSMIC ENTERTAINMENT & FAMOUS PROJECTS .  Togeteher with her coach friend and partner Lazarous Mpala, - with the DREAM TEAM – MystIQ fights towards building a better South Africa. Helping the youth to develop in their talents,  and teaching them skills, that can help them with career options, while spreading love and bringing hope to those less fortunate in reaching their goals and achieving their dreams.

When opportunity came along on January 2022 she joined forces with Mrs. Kholiwe Dlamini, who she partnered for a short period of time working as NPO in Gauteng to strengthen appreciation for, Theatre arts Performance and African music, and to develop local skills and networks to raise awareness, and to promote positive images and solidarity with the youth, Then Untold Stories NPO was born. By then She had Co- directed the academy and the youth group in their first music festival and 2 concerts with Lazarous Mpala whom has been part of her dream team with Cosmic Entertainment, acting as Mentor and creative Director. They were awarded 2nd Prize and the annual Gospel Competition for local creatives in Gauteng in May 2022. By the end of June 2022 things went very wrong and the team of Directors for Untold Stories Split up.

Despite the disappointment and setbacks, MystiQ is still determined to build her Academy of arts and bring about change to this broken world and save dreams. In August 2022 she had teamed up with Lazarous Mpala and Eva Mokoena who is also the Director of the organization The Arrow. Together they are launching an organization called S.T.A.R. Reclaimed Projects - MystiQ hopes to inspire and motivate others with similar trauma and setbacks in their lives helping and advising where she can with abused and traumatized individuals.

IN GENERAL
MystiQ has suffered major traumas and continues her struggles after being diagnosed with a disease in 2020 that has robbed her from her normal life, and makes her daily activities extra challenging, A disease that disables her from having a normal job and makes simple everyday tasks, like taking a bath and getting dressed exhausting to say the least. “Fibromyalgia is a Thief of many! “  She is facing many challenges to come, but refuses to give up and continues to smile through a lot of pain. She shares this dread disease with other artists like Lady Gaga and Morgan Freeman. She is inspired by the power of music to bring emotional change & healing, she says, “Music speaks to us at a spiritual level, therefore, using music, we can impact people’s lives, at the most basic level.""“My life has purpose - the pain I endured was to teach me, so I can help those souls, who is near giving up, those who needs the encouragement and hope that’s missing from their lives. Music is medicine for the soul and with music I have Risen from the dead, standing tall smiling, reaching my destiny!!!! With other souls that lost their way, many souls, all wanting to just be someone, reaching our destiny! Finally! “"As musicians, entertainers and artists – we bring entertainment, healing, love and passion to a world that desperately needs it!