Zwai Bala (born 15 February 1975) is a South African kwaito and gospel musician.

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Education

Bala studied at the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School, near Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, and matriculated at St Stithians College in 1994. He then pursued an online Master's Certificate in Orchestration for Film and Television at Berklee College of Music in Boston.[1] He came to public attention in 1997 as a member of the kwaito group TKZee.[2]

Career

When he was 11 years old, he entered The Shell Road to Fame talent show and reached the semi-finals. Together with school friends Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala, he formed kwaito group TKZee. TKZee released their singles "Take It Eezy", holiday hit "Phalafala" and their top-selling "Shibobo",[3] which featured South Africa national football team player Benni McCarthy. Later, Bala began a solo musical career.

As a music director and producer, Bala has worked on musicals featuring Ali Campbell of UB40,[4] produced Grace from the two-time Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir,[5] and has been the featured soloist at the Classical FM–Lexus Soiree at the Sandton Intercontinental.

He was a celebrity contestant on the first season of the SABC 2 reality competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2006, partnered with professional ballroom dancer Kego Motshabi. The pair finished third.[6]

Songs

Bala's recorded music include:

• Ndize
• Umlilo-Masibase
• All I Do
• Black 'N Proud
• Ndiredi
• Moody's Mood For Love
• Nozamile
• Vuk'uzenzele
• Play That Music
• Kuyasa
• Ikhaya
• Bash'abafana
• Tino Tino
• Folkfanse-My Heritage
• Hand Prints
• Circle of Life
• Solo
• Soccer
• Gux Duo
• Niceland-Guguletu
• Everyone Can Drum
• Noble Peace
• Noyana

Television

His television appearances include:[2]

• All You Need Is Love – Season 2 – Host
• Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Season 1 – Choir Master
• Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Season 3 – Guest Judge
• Popstars – Season 2, 3 and 4 – Judge
• Pump Up The Volume – Season 1 – Judge
• Red Cake – Not the Cooking Show – Season 1 – Houseband leader

Awards

In 2002 he received a South African Music Award (SAMA) For his single "Lifted"[1] and in 2019 he, along with fellow TKZee members Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala, received a SAMA award for Lifetime Achievement.[7]

References