Mandoza
| Mandoza | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Mduduzi Edmund Tshabalala January 17, 1978 Soweto, South Africa |
| Died | September 18, 2016 (aged 38) Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Cause of death | oropharyngeal cancer |
| Resting place | Westpark Cemetery |
| Nationality | South Africa |
| Other names | MDZ |
| Spouse(s) | Mpho Mputhi Tshabalala |
| Children | 4 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Years active | 1990s–2016 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
Mduduzi Edmund Tshabalala (January 17, 1978 – September 18, 2016), also known as Mandoza, was a South African kwaito musician. Known for his hit singles such as Nkalakatha, Tornado, Sgelekeqe, Godoba and Indoda which topped the charts in South Africa and all over, his second album Nkalakatha released in 2000 became the biggest selling album in his career selling 350 000 units which made him a big African celebrity and a Kwaito multi-platinum selling artist to have come out of the African continent.
Mandoza was born in 1978 in Zola, a township in Soweto, where he lived with his mother, his grandparents and two sisters. He never knew his father, his mother claiming that he was murdered the same year Mandoza was born. When he was sixteen years old he was charged with stealing a car and received a one-and-a-half year sentence, which he served in Diepkloof Prison.
When he was released from prison, Mandoza formed the group "Chiskop" along with three childhood friends, S’bu, Siphiwe aka General and Sizwe. His talents were discovered by Arthur Mafokate, also known as the King of Kwaito. Mandoza was first played on air by DJ Sipho Mbatha, known as Sgqemeza, of Durban Youth Radio and then of Ukhozi FM. Mandoza strived to give an inspirational message to Kwaito. He used his music as a way to encourage young South Africans to achieve their goals. His song "Uzoyithola Kanjani" means: "how are you going to get it, if you don't get up and go for it." He credited much of his success to his mentor, Glenn Morris, who helped him during his drug addled early years.
The group signed its first record contract eight years after its formation and released their debut album, Akusheshi, later followed by Relax. Although Chiskop achieved great success and was widely seen to be at kwaito's forefront, Mandoza also started a solo career. In 1999 he released the top-selling (more than 100,000 units sold) album 9II5 Zola South, for which he gained a 2000 FNB South African Music Awards Best Newcomer nomination.
He then released his second album Nkalakatha in 2000, produced by Gabi Le Roux, which won multi-platinum status. The title track became a crossover hit and reached the top of the charts on both traditionally black and white radio stations. This album won the Best Kwaito Music Album category and the album's title track won the Song Of The Year category at the South African Music Awards in 2001. Mandoza also won in five of the ten categories at the 2001 Metro Music Awards: Best Kwaito Artist, Best Male Vocalist, Best Album, Best Styled Artist and Song Of The Year. Also in 2001, Mandoza won the Best Artist - Southern Africa category at the Kora All Africa Music Awards. In 2003, Mandoza participated in the documentary film SHARP! SHARP! - the kwaito story, directed by Aryan Kaganof and released his fourth big-selling album Tornado Mandoza was voted 77th in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004.
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