Bholoja

BIO

Bholoja, born Mbongiseni Ngubane, is to be considered one of the most relevant figures of the contemporary African music scene. After the success of his first album, Swazi Soul, released in 2009, Bholoja gained vast appreciation and earned ample recognition in Southern Africa, becoming the first Swazi artist to achieve international exposure solely through the works of his music.
He draws his inspiration from Swazi tradition and seeks to preserve the country’s cultural heritage through his songs. His music is a response to the changing global situation and African growth challenges. This passionate artist soon became Eswatini’s rising symbol of its native rhythms, melodies, arts and culture. Maintaining Swazi traditions is his greatest inspiration and his way of living, becoming a mouthpiece for the underprivileged, bringing forward a message of hope to the victims of true social and health pandemics.

Bholoja’s unique and original brand of music, which he calls Swazil Soul, quickly gained popularity in Southern Africa, and his distinctive and outstanding voice has become its symbol. It is hard to classify his characteristic music as it meanders and bend between his various sources of inspiration, such as alternative soul, gospel, jazz, blues and African traditional. What is certain about his music is that it is cloaked in social commentary, and it speaks to the listener. His enduring popularity is largely a result of his music lyrical strength, depth and individuality. A large number of his songs focus on the social and economic issues that govern peoples’ daily lives. With an infectious sense of humour and optimism that prevails through all his music, Bholoja’s appeal extends to young and old alike.

In 2009, he recorded his debut album, Swazi Soul, in Paris, France through the help of the Alliance Francais du Swaziland. In 2015, he completed Swazi Soul II in Pretoria, South Africa. Swazi Soul III is currently in the final stages of production.
Some of his other musical achievements include:
Best Upcoming African Musician 2009 Artist at Visa Pour la Creation hosted by Culture France.
Best Siswati Album (Swazi Soul) 2010 South African Traditional Music Achievement (SATMA)
Best Album (Swazi Soul) 2012 Swaziland Tihlabani Awards
Artist of the Year 2012 Swaziland Tihlanani Awards.
For three consecutive years, he won the Best-Selling Swazi Artist and Most Popular Swazi Artist categories, also at the Swaziland Tihlabani awards.
In 2010, he again was in the top ten nominees in Radio France International (RFI).

His growth as an artist has seen him sharing the stage and studio with great names in the music scene, such as Hugh Masikela, Erika Badu, Jimmy Dludlu, Sipho Hotsticks, Judith Sephuma, Tshepo Tsola, Ray Phiri, Nqubeko Mbatha, Bheka Mthethwa, Nduduzo Matse, Flowe, Switch, Fanaza, KRTC, Lokua Kanza, Tony Cox, Steve Newman, Kalid Kuen, Vincent Bucher, Tao Ravao, Oliver Mtukudzi, Freshly Ground, Kunle Ayo, Simphiwe Dana and many more.

He has shared his music at numerous venues since his 2004 debut at House on Fire. This includes many festival performances, such as MTN Bushfire, Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Azgo Festival, Sakifo Festival, Kuwait Music Festival and Moshito Festival. He has toured at least 19 African countries throughout his career, as well as in Austria, France and Germany.

Bholoja has built a strong reputation as a positive and influential symbol of his country. In August 2008, he was appointed a member to the Entertainment Committee of the 40/40 National Double Celebration by His Majesty, King Mswati III. His Majesty also appointed him to the committee of Arts in Eswatini University eKwaluseni. It is also worth noting that he received a direct letter from US President Barack Obama, appreciating his composition of his life story.

As a voice of the Swati people, Bholoja does his very best to represent, appreciate and give back to his country. He started his own foundation, Bholoja Arts Technology and Educational Foundation ( BATEF). The mission of BATEF is to fight poverty in Africa, starting in Eswatini, by providing the resources and motivation necessary for people, particularly the youth, to acquire skills necessary to succeed in our ever-changing technological world. This spirited musician uses BATEF to motivate, inspire and positively advise students to follow their passion and conquer the barriers they face in order to live a successful and fulfilling life. He is committed to the continuous growth of BATEF throughout the country over the next several years.
Bholoja also works with local NGOs and the American Embassy to create innovative road shows to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He is an ambassador of World Vision's fight against abuse (especially against women and children) and was also the first MTN Swaziland Ambassador, and served in that role for 3 years, from 2011-13.