Biography
Emerging as one of the earliest major stars from Durban’s gqom scene, singer and choreographer Babes Wodumo helped channel global interest toward the style. Her vocals, at once melodic and assertive, bring wider appeal to gqom’s taut, hypnotic textures, themselves a leaner, polyrhythmic offshoot of the house-rooted genre kwaito. Breakthrough arrived with the 2016 single “Wololo,” which appeared on her debut album Gqom Queen, Vol. 1 and drew multiple award nominations. Those honors opened doors to the Black Panther soundtrack in 2018 and a collaboration with Major Lazer, both of which extended her reach abroad. Although her private life frequently draws more notice than her recordings, she has kept releasing music and working with South African artists, sustaining a visible role in entertainment.
Born Bongekile Simelane in Durban in 1994, she was given the nickname Babes by her father and also known as Wodumo while growing up. Early interests in modeling, athletics, and acting gave way in the early 2010s to singing and dancing; she later established the West Ink Dance Academy to divert at-risk youth from street life through creative involvement. The 2016 single “Wololo” launched her recording career. Included on the full-length Gqom Queen, Vol. 1, produced by her manager and boyfriend Mampintsha, the track became a nationwide hit. Nominations followed from outlets that included the South African Music Awards and the 2017 BET Awards, where she was shortlisted for Best International Act: Africa. In 2018 she joined Zacari for “Redemption” on the Black Panther soundtrack and appeared on Major Lazer’s “Orkant/Balance Pon It,” which also featured Taranchyla. Further singles arrived with “Umphabazo” in 2018 and “Otshwaleni” in 2019. Her second album, Idando Kazi, was released in July 2020.
Born Bongekile Simelane in Durban in 1994, she was given the nickname Babes by her father and also known as Wodumo while growing up. Early interests in modeling, athletics, and acting gave way in the early 2010s to singing and dancing; she later established the West Ink Dance Academy to divert at-risk youth from street life through creative involvement. The 2016 single “Wololo” launched her recording career. Included on the full-length Gqom Queen, Vol. 1, produced by her manager and boyfriend Mampintsha, the track became a nationwide hit. Nominations followed from outlets that included the South African Music Awards and the 2017 BET Awards, where she was shortlisted for Best International Act: Africa. In 2018 she joined Zacari for “Redemption” on the Black Panther soundtrack and appeared on Major Lazer’s “Orkant/Balance Pon It,” which also featured Taranchyla. Further singles arrived with “Umphabazo” in 2018 and “Otshwaleni” in 2019. Her second album, Idando Kazi, was released in July 2020.
Albums
Singles
