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Mzwandile “Zwai” Bala (born 15 February 1975) is a South African kwaito and gospel musician, composer, performer, and musical director. He rose to prominence as a co-founder of the kwaito group TKZee and the vocal trio The Bala Brothers.
| Zwai Bala | |
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| Personal Details | |
| Name: | Mzwandile Bala |
| Born: | 15 February 1975 (age 51 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Parents: | Arthur Bala (father) Veronica Bala (mother) |
| Occupation: | Musician, producer, composer |
| Genre: | Kwaito, Gospel |
| Affiliations: | The Bala Brothers TKZee |
| Spouse: | Melanie Bala (m. 2008; div. 2017) |
| Children: | 3 |
Early Life
Mzwandile Bala was born on 15 February 1975 in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, to Arthur and Veronica Bala. He grew up with his sister Thozama ‘Pinky’ Bala and two brothers, Loyiso and Phelo Bala.
After his biological father passed away, his mother, Veronica, married Sebenzile Jafta, who became his stepfather.
Education
Zwai attended Drakensberg Boys’ School. He was the first black pupil admitted to the school. He later moved to St Stithians College, where he met Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala.
Bala sat for his Grade 8 Music Theory examination at the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He earned a scholarship to pursue Bachelor of Music studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music.
He also holds a Master’s Certificate in Orchestration for Film and Television from Berklee College of Music.
Career
Zwai entered the talent search competition The Shell Road in 1986 and reached the semi-finals. He broke into the music scene after forming the kwaito group TKZee with his friends Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala.
TKZee released the EP Phalafala in 1997 and their debut album Halloween in 1998. Their hit single Shibobo, which sold 280,000 units, featured Bafana Bafana player Benni McCarthy. They also released the hit Take It Eezy.
In 1999, TKZee scooped five SAMA awards, including Best Duo/Group and Best Kwaito Album. Sadly, the trio lost member Tokollo in 2022 after an epileptic attack.
In 2006, Zwai and his brother, Loyiso, performed at the Market Theatre’s 30th Anniversary in Newtown. He and his brothers, Loyiso and Phelo, formed the music group The Bala Brothers and the company Bala Brothers Productions.
TKZee was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) in Sun City in 2019.
Zwai also has a successful solo career and has worked with legends like Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He entered the SABC2 reality competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 as a celebrity contestant. He and his dance partner Kego Motshabi finished third.
He has worked on musicals featuring Ali Campbell, a lead singer of the iconic band UB40. He has also been the featured soloist at the Classical FM/ Lexus Soiree at the Sandton Intercontinental.
Zwai has released a gospel album “Lifted Vol. 1”, which won a SAMA in 2002. His hit track “Lifted” featured vocals from the late kwaito star Dr Mageu. He later released another project, “The Indigo Child”.
The kwaito icon has appeared in many television productions. He has served as a judge on Popstars and Popstars East Africa, touring Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania to discover new talent.
Zwai has also contributed to theatrical works. In 2007, he co-composed the music for the stage production Soweto Story, directed by Deon Opperman.
In 2013, Zwai appeared as a choirmaster in season one of Mzansi Magic reality competition Clash of the Choirs South Africa, mentoring the choirs from Mpumalanga. He returned as a guest judge in season three and a judge in season four.
In 2018, Bala collaborated and composed the stage production Tsotsi, the Musical at Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa. He debuted in the reality TV show The Bala Family, which premiered on Mzansi Magic in April 2023 and returned for season 2.
Zwai appeared in seasons one and two of the SABC2 comedy variety game show Red Cake-Not The Cooking Show as a house band leader and returned for season three as a musical director. He served as a judge on the music reality competition series Pump Up The Volume.
He has also served as a musical adviser on Old Mutual’s Amazing Voices, a choral music competition. He was appointed as a writing fellow with the University of Johannesburg.
Personal Life
Zwai married radio personality Melanie Bala in 2008. The couple finalised their divorce in 2017 and issued a joint statement announcing the end of their marriage. He has three children, a son, Sean Bala, and a daughter, Peyton Bala, with his ex-wife, and a daughter with a partner.
Sadly, his stepfather, Sebenzile Jafta, passed away on 10 February 2024.
TV Roles
- A Place Called Home as Guest Star
- All You Need Is Love as Host
- Clash of the Choirs South Africa as Choirmaster
- Idols as Guest Judge
- Miss South Africa as Performer
- Noot vir Noot as Guest Artist
- Popstars as Judge
- Pump Up The Volume as Judge
- Red Cake – Not the Cooking Show as House Band Leader
- Strictly Come Dancing as Himself
References
- Karabo Motsiri Mokoena. “Zwai Bala expecting another baby”. The Citizen.
- Katlego Sekhu. ”Zwai Bala celebrates daughter’s birthday with a heartfelt message”. Kaya 959.
- “GMTWP Alum Mkhululi Mabija has Production of New Musical TSOTSI”. tisch.nyu.edu.
- Therese Owen. “‘This album is me and what I’ve learnt’”. IOL.
- Luthando Vikilahle. “GQ exclusive: An unfiltered interview with Kwaito legend Zwai Bala”. GQ.
- News24. “HHP, TKZee and Mango Groove to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards at Samas 2019”. www.news24.com.
- TshisaLIVE Staff. “Bala family mourns death of loved one Sebenzile Jafta”. TshisaLIVE.
- Lineo Lesemane. “‘I choose not to talk badly about their father’: Mel Bala on co-parenting after divorce from Zwai”. The Citizen.
- Glamour South Africa. “Zwai Bala expecting 3rd child with his new bae”. www.glamour.co.za.
- TVSA. “Zwai Bala – Bio”. www.tvsa.co.za.
- Sheldon Rocha Leal, PhD. “Iconic South Africans V: Zwai Bala”. shelrochaleal.medium.com.
