Mashayabhuqe KaMamba, real name Nsikelelo Christian Ndlovu, is a young man from KwaZulu Natal (KZN), Durban who grew up in the green valleys of Mandeni and later moved to Eshowe/Nkandla. After many trials, rejections (in Durban), and obstacles faced during his journey to breaking through into the entertainment world, Mashaya, as he is popularly known, decided to become a rebel with a purpose in 2010. He packed his bags and left home for Johannesburg.
He has invented, and is the pioneer of, a brand new musical sound and music genre called Digital Maskandi – an amalgamation of all his musical influences including trap, electronic soul and traditional Maskandi music. Mashaya’s 2014 release of the smash hit ‘Shandarabaa’ gained him a lot of local and international attention which saw him featured in publications such as OkayAfrica, The Fader and The Guardian. The single was, and continues to be on high rotation on local radio stations, namely: Ukhozi FM, Gagasi FM, Tru FM and IGwalaGwala FM.
This will be Mashaya’s first time performing outside the South African borders: “I am so excited, humbled, completely freaking out, but so grateful. I can’t believe it still, maybe it will click when I’m up on that Afropunk stage and sharing my African rhythms with all music lovers,” says Mashaya, with obvious nervous excitement. The AFROPUNK invite is the culmination of a young man’s dream, a dream that comes to full realisation on the 3rd of JUNE 2016. When asked which artists he’s most excited to meet, he said: “Hands down, the beyond talented, Saul Williams and, the musical genius that is Angel Haze.’
Check out his music video:
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8zFjwQ8EQM” width=”560″ height=”315″]
