MaWhoo’s Single “Kulula” Goes Gold.MaWhoo, born Thandeka Ngema, has been pursuing a career in music since she brought her first track to a radio station in Eshowe Kwazulu Natal, at 11 years old. She is popular for her work on her two songs alongside Scorpion Kings on their groundbreaking Once Upon a Time in Lockdown, each step of the way championing the belief that women should be able to express themselves however they chose — and be appreciated for it.
Born in Eshowe, KZN, MaWhoo recorded a song and took it to a local radio station. They declined to promote her because they felt she was ‘too young. The singer was around eleven years old. She described the experience as heartbreaking. “I was crying. It was too painful to me,” she told Afternoon Express.
She recently dropped Kulula featuring Maphorisa and Kabza, and the song has now gone gold. The amapiano vocalist shared pictures of herself posing with a gold Plaque. This is a major milestone for the amapiano vocalist. See pics:
The 25-year-old talent is also keen on preserving her culture in the way she appears in music videos. However, she often projects this image in her day-to-day dressing. “Culture is art, it differentiates and it is my pride. African attire gives me that sense of belonging and confidence that nobody can take away from me. As an African queen, I believe that you are more beautiful when you are comfortable in your own skin. My actual plan was to free the nipple and wear Ubuhlalu (beadwork) as it should be. But since my video is playing on all digital platforms, they wouldn’t play if it was like that…they would say it’s pornography and censor it. That would disturb the beauty of the video.”
Her advice to people is, “Music changed my life. As an artist. I’ve learned that some other things seem so easy until done. But when you are consistent, passionate about something you will always win no matter what. The music industry teaches me to be independent but be able to learn from people who have been there. Practice humility, respect people and listen. Music also keeps me close to God. I know the pain of wanting something and it doesn’t happen the way I wanted. However, when I pray I always ask God to lead me where there’s happiness and success.”
