Zwai Bala

Zwai Bala (born 15 February 1975) is a South African kwaito and gospel musician.

Zwai Bala
Birth nameMzwandile Bala
Born (1975-02-15) 15 February 1975
Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa
GenresKwaito, Gospel
Occupation(s)rapper, singer, actor
Years active1997–present
Associated acts

Education

Bala studied at the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School, near Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, and matriculated at St. Stithians College in 1994. He then pursued an online Master's Certificate in Orchestration for Film and Television at Berklee College of Music in Boston.[1] He came to public attention in 1997 as a member of the kwaito group TKZee.[2]

Career

When he was 11 years old, he entered The Shell Road to Fame talent show and reached the semi-finals. Together with school friends Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala, he formed kwaito group TKZee. TKZeereleased their singles "Take It Eezy", holiday hit "Phalafala" and their top-selling "Shibobo",[3] which featured South Africa national football team player Benni McCarthy. Later, Bala began a solo musical career.

Bala is a music director and producer, who has worked on musicals featuring Ali Campbell of UB40,[4] produced Grace from the two-time Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir,[5] and has been the featured soloist at the Classical FM–Lexus Soiree at the Sandton Intercontinental.

He was a celebrity contestant on the first season of the SABC 2 reality competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2006, partnered with professional ballroom dancer Kego Motshabi. The pair finished third.[6]

Songs
  • Ndize
  • Umlilo-Masibase
  • All I Do
  • Black 'N Proud
  • Ndiredi
  • Moody's Mood For Love
  • Nozamile
  • Vuk'uzenzele
  • Play That Music
  • Kuyasa
  • Ikhaya
  • Bash'abafana
  • Tino Tino
  • Folkfanse-My Heritage
  • Hand Prints
  • Circle of Life
  • Solo
  • Soccer
  • Gux Duo
  • Niceland-Guguletu
  • Everyone Can Drum
  • Noble Peace
  • Noyana

Television

His television appearances include:[2]

  • All You Need Is Love – Season 2 – Host
  • Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Season 1 – Choir Master
  • Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Season 3 – Guest Judge
  • Popstars – Season 2, 3 and 4 – Judge
  • Pump Up The Volume – Season 1 – Judge
  • Red Cake – Not the Cooking Show – Season 1 – Houseband leader

Awards

In 2002 he received a South African Music Award (SAMA) For his single Lifted[1] and in 2019 Bala and the TKZee members received a SAMA award for Lifetime Achievement.[7]

References
  1. James, Kamoche (10 April 2018). "Zwai Bala Biography".
  2. "Zwai Bala | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za.
  3. "SAMusic".
  4. "Ali Campbell – The Legendary Voice Of UB40 Reunited with Astro & Mickey release new album "Silhouette" ahead of Australian tour in December". Cooking Vinyl. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  5. "Grace – The Soweto Gospel Choir | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  6. "Strictly Come Dancing South Africa – Episode 1". Timely Passion.
  7. "TKZee's journey to being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award". KAYA FM. 4 June 2019.
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