She was born in
Lebowakgomo,
Limpopo province. She started singing at school and in church at a very young age. She was educated at the University of Cape Town. She was a "Young Artist" with the
Cape Town Opera company for two years, and appeared in
Die Zauberflöte,
Mandela Trilogy and
Porgy and Bess. She won the audience award at the
International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in 2019. Masabane obtained a BTech in Vocal Art (Performance) after studying under Kiewiet Lengana Pali at
Tshwane University of Technology. She won the Song Award in the 2021
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, becoming the first African to do so. She was also a finalist for the main Singer of the World award. She appeared at the First Night of the
Proms in 2022, as a soloist in
Verdi's Requiem, and in 2023 she sang again at the Proms, in a concert featuring the
National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. In March 2024 Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha was awarded the
Herbert von Karajan Prize. ==Awards==