From robber to polished star
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APPER-cum-actor, Brian Bruno Majola is testimony that no one is too bad to become good. Having spent 10 years in Leeuwkop Prison, he is determined to turn his life around.
He is a true hustler who grew up in the streets of Soweto after leaving his family home because of alleged abuse. My father was abusive so I ended up on the streets and eventually in jail,” says Majola.
He describes this experience as traumatic.
It was hectic in there (jail). On the streets I had to be my own parent, looking out for myself. That is an experience that no child should go through,” he says.
He was arrested at the tender age of 15 for armed robbery.
I learned a lot from being behind bars and I vowed to turn my life around and never go back there. Being inside taught me so much about life, especially the virtue of being patient.” But prison came with some benefits too. I started teaching my peers, and eventually I started the music duo, Gumshev. I also managed to finish school while I was there. I got a good deal,” he says.
The 29-year old says food is the worst memory he has of jail. I don t miss the steamed pap, eggs and cabbage that was our staple diet.”
When he was released in 2006, he went straight to his mom s house for a seven colour lunch.
Next stop was at music producer, Lance Stehr s house, whom he met through other inmates in jail, to negotiate a recording deal.
That same year, Gumshev s debut album,
was
%released.
I worked hard to release our first album. I wrote and rapped while I was inside [prison] so I would have a plan when I got out. I had four hardcover books filled with music that I needed to get out of my system. So, going to Lance was a nobrainer for me,” he says.
A year later, he auditioned for e.tv s prime soapie,
When you come out of prison, everyone is eager to see what you are going to do with your life. Some even try to draw you back into the life of crime but that s not what I envisioned for myself. Acting is something I was never trained for. I learned on set after I got a part. At first I got carried away but I soon learned to take direction and learn the basics,” he says.
After a three-year break from the entertainment industry, Majola is back on our TV screens as upcoming musician, Bongani Khumalo, on
He has also released a 10track extended play called
and is working on his first solo album that he plans to drop in March this year.
When I first came out of prison, I told stories about my struggles and my life. This album I m working on is different; it has more Bruno flavour. It is fun and I get to say whatever I feel. It s a very outspoken album and it s really about me exposing my talent and showing people that there is really more to me than the hardships I ve gone through,” he says.
He has also ventured into motivational speaking, using his life experiences to urge prisoners to make a positive difference to society once they are free.
I inspire them to learn from their experience in prison, not to see it as time wasted but to see the positives in every situation,” he says.
He has also made peace and reunited with his mom and siblings.
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