For many of us, the career choices we started out with in our formative years fell by the wayside as we acquired new interests — and in some instances, when fear overtook our foremost passions. But, not Dr Tumisang Makweya, popularly known by his stage name Dr Tumi. The award-winning local gospel star and medical doctor, whose music is often described as “speaking life and healing to the body, mind and soul”, knew from as early as primary school that he wanted to be a doctor.
“I was always drawn to the concept of helping people in whatever form. Extending a hand was a thought that never left my mind,” he shares.
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“I did well at school, and my dad would proudly rave about how smart I was and predict that I’d become a doctor. I think that’s what partly planted the seed,” he adds.
The last born in a family of six children, when his matric year rolled around, Dr Tumi already had his eldest medical doctor brother to look up to. It’s this same brother with whom he, now, co-owns a 24-hour private medical practice in Polokwane.
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“The practice was a shared dream of ours. My brother is currently based in Polokwane, and I spend two days a week there. However, I’m currently travelling less due to lockdown regulations,” explains the Seshego-born artist and songwriter. Cautious not to paint his career path as smooth sailing, he shares about an instance that once made him doubt if he was cut out for the medical world.
