SA: Mawhoo to bring Secret Garden live experience to Durban in November

The full-day experience will take place at Munies Hockey Club in Greyville, running from noon until 2am. Mawhoo will headline the event with a live band, alongside other local and national artists.

The Durban edition was previewed this week at a media evening at Maison in Durban, attended by members of the media, creatives, family and friends of the artist. The gathering was hosted by East Coast Radio presenter Zisto and offered an introduction to the concept and creative direction of the upcoming event.

Secret Garden is designed to extend beyond a conventional concert, incorporating gourmet food, premium beverages, VIP lounges, fashion showcases, brand activations, interactive experiences and curated photo opportunities. The event will move from daytime activities into sunset and late-night entertainment.

Mawhoo said the live component of the event is particularly important to her as technology and artificial intelligence continue to influence music creation and consumption.

“Even though AI exists and technology is changing the way we experience music, I still want my community to hear my voice and experience me authentically. I want to be close to my people, perform with a live band and give them an experience where they can feel the music and connect with me,” she said.

The event is intended to bring together music audiences, creatives, entrepreneurs and culture enthusiasts while connecting live entertainment with contemporary African lifestyle and creative expression.

Mawhoo, whose real name is Thandeka Nontobeko Ngema, is a vocalist, songwriter and model from Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal. She began singing in church as a teenager and later studied at the University of South Africa before pursuing music professionally.

She gained wider recognition in 2019 with ‘Umshado’, a collaboration with Heavy-K, and has since worked with artists and producers including DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small and Master KG.