Busiswa Gqulu was born on 8 November 1988 in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. When she was young, her family moved to Durban due to her parents' work.
Busiswa Gqulu's performance poetry journey began when she joined the Young Basadzi Women of Poetry collective in 2005. Since then, she has captivated audiences at various stages, including the National Arts Festival, the Cape Town National Youth Festival and the Poetry Africa Festival, where she first performed in 2010.
A new-age performance poet and singer, Busiswa opened the stage for singers Tu Nokwe and Siphokazi and shared the stage with artists such as Ntsiki Mazwai, Mak Manaka, Lebo Mashile, Gcina Mhlophe, Ernie Smith and Concord Nkabinde, among others. Some of her career highlights include performing at the Malibongwe Dialogues held in 2008 as part of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebrations and being the resident presenter at a key public viewing area in Durban during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Busiswa's poetry was selected for a CD compilation called Sounds 031 – Best of Durban Women edition. Using her poetry as a means of reaching multiple platforms, Gqulu appears as a poet on several South African community and national radio stations. She also works at Art for Humanity, where she offers snacks to schoolchildren as a way to help develop an appreciation for poetry and the visual arts. Busiswa's development work also involved working with the Umlazi District Department of Education's Youth Development Office, teaching students public speaking, debating and performing poetry.
Busiswa leads the initiative that aims to link poets to economically beneficial opportunities and charitable projects, 1st Word Poetry Project.
As a singer, Busiswa is signed to Kalawa Jazmee/Universal Records in Johannesburg. She appears on the dance track My Name Is, which has received extensive airing on South African radio stations since its release.
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