10 Things You Should Know About MaWhoo. 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.
Here are 10 things you should know about MaWhoo:
1 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.
2 MaWhoo started her musical career at a young age.
3 Her 2019 single, “Umshado” (meaning marriage) has over 700k views on YouTube.
4 The talented singer has already collaborated with the likes of DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small and Heavy K.
5 Between 2017 and 2018, 2,930 women were victims of femicide. According to this figure, a woman is killed every three hours in South Africa. Singer, songwriter, and performer MaWhoo—born Thandeka Ngema—wants to change those statistics for the better. Her best impact outside the music industry is in the fight against gender-based violence.
6 She proceeded to do modelling while studying for a degree at UNISA. MaWhoo has made a cameo in music videos and acting. She has modelled for fashion brands such as Tribe Afrique, House of Supreme, and Convoy Clothing SA.
7 After graduating and trying out teaching, MaWhoo realized she wanted more.
8 Sometime in 2018, she reached out to Mabala Noise, one of South Africa’s top music labels. She convinced them to invest in her. A talent manager from Durban, working with the label decided to connect her with Heavy K, arguably one of the most talented music producers in Africa.
9 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.”
10 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.”
