Home-grown teen muso wants to fly higher than Ringo
His debut album Inyaniso was recorded in a makeshift studio in his bedroom with only a mic, keyboard, two speakers and a computer, and sold less than 100 copies.
But that did not stop Mthatha teen singing sensation Inga from scooping the best Afro-pop Artist gong at the coveted Eastern Cape Music Awards in East London last week.
Mfono, 17, also finished as runner-up in the Best Newcomer category.
Now that he has tasted success, the young muso from the Mandela Park informal settlement has set his sights on following in the footsteps of his idols, legendary Afro-pop crooners Ringo Madlingozi and Ntando.
The matric pupil managed to juggle his hectic school schedule and campaigning for votes in the months leading up to the awards.
It is all about the right kind of attitude, he says. With this, comes achievement.
“This award shows that people do notice my hard work,” he said this week.
“At times it was frustrating because I had to promote my nominations.
“It was hard to juggle school and the ECMAs, but I guess my success shows that hard work does pay off.”
His mother, Gcobisa Mfono, 47, says she could not be any prouder of her son.
She decided not to ask him to temporarily put his music career on hold and focus on his matric, saying: “If you take the music away from him, he is not himself.
He lives for music and it is what drives him to be that good at everything he does.”
The Dispatch has followed the story of the former Holy Cross Education Centre High pupil, who went by the stage name of “Obu Mxhosa” when he wrote, arranged, composed and recorded all his music in a makeshift studio in his backroom flat.
He is also a self-taught guitarist, pianist, drummer, marimba player, vocal coach and choreographer. Mfono started singing at four. “Now I know I am capable of moving to greater heights, I want to conquer the mainstream Afro-pop industry like Ringo and Ntando,” he said.
“With my debut album I was expressing myself.
“If you listen to the songs, they all have deep meaning.
“That is because I believe music can heal people.
“When they hear my songs, I want people to forget about their problems.”