DJ Morda packs Ballantine’s Stage
MALKERNS - South African DJ, record producer, singer and dancer Morda Was the highlight at the Ballantine’s Stage This was on Friday night just after 11:15pm during the first day of the MTN Bushfire festival.
The 16th Edition of the MTN Bushfire Festival officially kicked off on a high note as it saw full capacity compared to last year’s restricted figures, due to the COVID -19 restrictions.
Morda took over the decks at 11:15pm on the Ballantine’s Stage which saw a huge crowd gather the area the minute he took over the decks. Dressed in a white T-shirt, track suit and an ERA flat cap which is a clothing label owned by his eTually talented wife DJ Zinhle. The DJ thrilled the crowd with his hour-long set. What made it if even more interesting were the dance moves he showcased throughout his set, especially when he did his famous move of dancing on top of the deck tables while also mixing beats. The excited and impressed crowd showed appreciation by capturing his set on their phones, singing and dancing along as well.
Bongani Mohosana born on June 9, 1987, known professionally as Mörda or Murdah Bongz, is best known for being a former member of the musical band Black Motion, which are also in the line-up for Saturday (yesterday) at 11pm. This was his first time performing solo in Eswatini since he left the musical band.
The SA DJ developed a passion and interest in music at a young age. He joined the church choir, where he learnt how to play musical instruments and was also involved in singing. He then developed his skills as a music composer, dancer and vocalist.
In 2009, the DJ along with Thabo Mabogwane aka Smol launched a band named Black Motion and he adopted the stage name Murdah Bongz. The duo started making music and became popular in 2011 after releasing their studio album Talking to the Drums.
Several years after the band’s founding, though, both decided to pursue solo careers. Murdah Bongz then changed his stage name to Mörda.
In 2022, he released his first solo debut album, Asante, which was named after his daughter.
MALKERNS – South African Gqom Amapiano Afro Pop queen Sho Madjozi lit up the Main Stage on the first day of the MTN Bushfire 16th Edition.
She was born Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif, also known as Maya The Poet on, May 9, 1992 in Limpopo, South Africa.
The dance queen took over the stage at 11pm for an hour. She had two female and male dancers on stage with her. Sho Madjozi uses a Tsonga signature style in her music and fashion sense. Being unapologetically proud of her culture, Tsonga, she commonly plays with the traditional wear in a fashion dress up. She usually performs the indigenous xibelani dance, where she wears a skirt called a tinguvu around her waist, then shakes the waist which creates attentiveness on her performances, which is what she wore also on Friday.
In an exclusive interview with this publication, the dance queen shared that she enjoyed this year’s performance as compared to the last time she performed at the festival back in 2019.
When asked how she felt after her trilling performance she said: “I loved this performance better than the last one. This one was different, I felt it was warmly received by the crowd. As this is my new sound, as I’m trying to prove myself, this time I felt more natural, it was really nice and the crowd was giving me so much love.”
When this reporter asked about the 2019 John Cena song, which put her on the map globally, the SA star said, “I have always loved John Cena as a child growing up with my cousins; we used to play and pretend that I’m John Cena. So when he came to the show while I was in the studio in 2019, that was shocking as I was not expecting him. You see this people on and never think you would see them in person but when you finally do it’s so something else.”
SURPRISED
The Unites States of America (USA) professional wrestler, actor and rapper John Cena surprised Sho Madjozi while she was in that country for an interview with TV host Kelly Clarkson about what it was like growing up in her rural South African village in Limpopo back in November 9, 2019.
The USA talk show has won People’s Choice Award for Favourite Daytime Talk Show and was nominated People’s Choice Award for Favourite Daytime Talk Show. It is owned by NBC Television Stations.
When quizzed how Missy Elliot co-sign changed her career in 2019, she shared that after the co-sign she got a signed by another music level because of that particular mention and she felt it was the universe speaking.
She further shared that she is working on a new song that will be released soon and she can’t wait to bring it Eswatini for her fans to listen and enjoy it.