Zwai Bala
Zwai Bala has journeyed and matured from the kwaito trio TKZee and the family days into a musical entrepreneur. Recognised as one of the top crossover producers and musical directors in the country, Zwai has been a very busy man, composing and producing for Bala Brothers, Bala Family, and TKZEE.
Zwai has been at it since he was 11 when he first entered The Shell Road to Fame in 1986 along with his sister Pinky and reached the semi-finals. At age 12 he entered again and this time around as a soloist and got a 1st runner up in the national finals and became the only youngest ever to claim that position.
Bala’s life has always been history in the making – when he entered the 1987 annual talent scout Golden Voice Competition organised by the Drakensberg Boys Choir(DBC) making it to the Final 7. His life was about to change, on the strength of his performance, was offered a bursary to the DBC. He in fact became the first black pupil at the Drakensberg Boys School to ever be admitted. In his first year he became a chorister of the world acclaimed school choir and a year later took a prize of the Tenor soloist of the Year.
As early as fifteen years, he had already taken interest in doing more than using only his voice, but was developing as an all rounded musician. He conducted the Drakensberg Boys Choir (DBC) and the Natal Youth Orchestra in Vryheid and Cape Town
Bala continued to educate himself musically at reputable institutions such as the London based Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, UNISA and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, UK, along the way collecting only distinctions.
His professional music career kicked off when he met high school peers Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala, formed a group that was to change the face of South African music, TKZee and arrived on the kwaito scene releasing singles “Take It Eezy” and then “Phalafala” which became a national anthem for the December holidays that year. “Shibobo” was yet another single released in 1998 featuring Benni McCarthy this was at the height of soccer fever during the France World Cup to which South Africa had qualified. The single was produced by Zwai went on to become SA’s fastest and biggest selling single ever reaching over 280 000 units.
When HALLOWEEN hit the streets later that year, the album sold 300 000 copies and that was the beginning of things for the groups.
The group raked in awards left right and centre. At the SAMAs, in 1999, they took home an unprecedented five awards for Best Kwaito single. Best Kwaito Album, Best single, Best Video and Best Duo or Group.
Between 2000 and 2003 Zwai was kept occupied by the growing popularity of TKZee Family and his gospel inspired project. Again the Family scooped SAMAs in 2001 for Best Kwaito single for Izinjazam and Lifted from the Zwai Bala Presents Lifted Volume 1 from his gospel collection won Best Rap Single. TKZee Family’s Guz 2001 was a runaway success reaching double Platinum status.
Zwai is an artist with many lives. When the TKZee members took different directions to pursue solo careers his creativity in other areas of the arts flourished.
The MUSICAL DIRECTOR - he has worked a range of musical greats in different genres yet the seed was planted much earlier in his life.
Bala has had the opportunity to direct projects like:
o 7th Annual SAMA Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre
o M-Net’s “Face of Africa” in 2001 – Glam Slam
o Evolution, a live music programme - aired on SABC 1 in 2002
o Tribute/SABC 2 Achievers Awards 2003,
o Siyaphezulu Workshop, Johannesburg
o Telkom/SABC 3 Christmas Concert at the Sandton Convention Centre with artists such as Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra; Drakensberg Boys Choir; Judith Sephuma and Tshepo Tshola.
o In 2004 directed and conducted an 8-piece live band and the JMI Orchestra at the Old Mutual ‘Captains of Industry’ Dinner and
o Conducted the Liberty Life African Classics Evening with Sibongile Khumalo and the JMI Orchestra and a live band at the Civic Theatre in Pretoria,
o Directed opening of Parliament and closing ceremony of the 10 Year Celebration in Cape Town’s Athlone Stadium.
o The 10th Year Democracy Celebration Concert at Union Buildings, Pretoria in 2004
o Composed the entire score featured in the handover ceremony of the Soccer World Cup in Germany 2006.
o In 2008 Zwai was appointed as musical director and composer of the first annual Stars of Mzansi Awards (South Africa’s equivalent to the Emmy’s).
o Ali Campbell of UB-40 fame also enjoyed the mastery of Zwai Bala when he put together a collaboration with Grammy winners, Ladysmith Black Mambazo in Munich, Germany.
The SOLOIST
When he was in Standard 8 at St. Stithians College he was a Soloist with Duke of Cornwall Singers and after completing high school with The Chanticleer Singers.
In his adult life Zwai has performed at prestigious events including:
• Telkom/702 Christmas Concert along DBC and Sibongile Khumalo.
• Was a principal in Sonder Grense – concert re-working opera music at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunsfees in Oudtshoorn in 2003 and to do Volksblad Kunste Fees in Bloemfontein.
• Featured soloist at the Classical FM/ Lexus Soiree at the Sandton Intercontinental.
The PRODUCER
Hugh Masekela’s album Revival enjoyed two very talented producers’ inputs Zwai and Guffy’s, earning two SAMA nominations – Best Producer and Best Male and going through the 1st round of selection for a Grammy nomination – Best Contemporary World.
Bala also co-produced the following songs:
• Tshepo Tshola’s “Winding Rivers and Waterfalls” record with Khaya Mahlangu a flute, saxophonist and top arranger.
• Godfrey ‘Guffy” Pilane to produce an impeccable music dance album ‘Babathane’ featuring the late TK, Tokollo, Kabelo, Ismael and more other artists, this effort resulted in a SAMA nomination 2004, in the category ‘Best Dance Album’.
• In 2005, Zwai worked and sang for the first time in studio with his whole Bala family (mother, sister, brothers and cousins) thus giving birth to their self explanatory Gospel debut album, ‘Genesis’. Genesis also earned a SAMA nomination for Best Gospel Performance.
• 2009 kicked off with Zwai producing the latest offering, Grace, by two time Grammy Award winners, Soweto Gospel Choir.
Zwai’s TV career spans from acting on Isidingo, hosting a cupid programme “All You Need is Love(2nd season) and was known as the and is known as the Dread Maestr on Classic FM CHART SHOW called Classical Countdown. In 2003, he judged the Coca-Cola Popstars, South Africa, an annual talent search show. He was invited to give his services on Popstars East Africa which saw him tour Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania. The series was broadcast on ITV, throughout East Africa.
Today Zwai is a celebrated musical director, composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, teacher and public speaker who has graced world stages and studios in musicals, opera performances, and theatrical plays.