DJ Maphorisa: From Soshanguve Beats to African DJ of the Year

South African producer Themba Sekowe, known as DJ Maphorisa, has shaped house, gqom and amapiano across a decade of hits, high‑profile collaborations and a growing label empire, while navigating awards, tours and public controversy.

Roots, family and the launch of BlaqBoy Music

Themba Sekowe was born on 15 November 1987 and raised in the township of Soshanguve, north of Pretoria. He belongs to Tsonga and Lobedu heritage, and he has explained that his professional moniker, “Maphorisa”, translates to “the police” in Tswana. Music runs in his family; his younger brother, who records under the name Myztro, is also a DJ and record‑producer, underscoring a household steeped in South African urban sound. From an early age Sekowe absorbed the rhythms of local house, gqom, amapiano and afropop, later describing his production style as a blend of those genres. He entered the formal music business through a contract with Kalawa Jazmee Records, a label that has historically nurtured South African pop and house talent. After gaining experience and industry contacts at Kalawa Jazmee, Sekowe founded his own imprint, BlaqBoy Music, positioning himself not only as a creator but also as a curator of emerging artists and a manager of his own publishing and royalty streams.

The BlaqBoy brand reflects Sekowe’s ambition to control the full life‑cycle of his music, from studio creation to distribution. While the label’s roster is not detailed in the source material, its establishment marks a strategic shift from being solely a producer for other acts to operating a self‑sufficient business platform that can sign, develop and release music under his own terms.

Breakthrough productions and first industry recognition

DJ Maphorisa first entered the national spotlight by providing the beats behind a string of chart‑topping singles across diverse South African genres. His production credits include Uhuru’s dance‑floor anthem “Y‑Tjukuta”, Kwesta’s crossover hit “Ngud’”, Busiswa’s energetic track “Lahla”, DJ Zinhle’s club favourite “My Name Is”, Professor’s pop‑rap offering “Jezebel” and Shekinah’s gospel‑infused single “Suited”. These songs demonstrated his ability to navigate house, gqom, hip‑hop and gospel contexts, cementing his reputation as a versatile hit‑maker. In September 2018 Sekowe released his own single “Midnight Starring”, enlisting Moonchild Sanelly, DJ Tira and Busiswa as featured artists. The track earned two nominations at the 2018 DStv Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards – Favourite Song of the Year and Favourite DJ – signalling his emergence as a front‑line performer as well as a behind‑the‑scenes producer. On 27 November 2018, at the third Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards, “Midnight Starring” won the most‑voted‑for song award, confirming that his solo work resonated with both fans and industry peers.

Major collaborations, landmark releases and streaming milestones

April 2021 marked a prolific period for Sekowe. On 9 April he joined forces with Congolese‑born singer‑songwriter TRESOR and amapiano pioneer Kabza De Small to issue the collaborative studio album “Rumble in the Jungle”. The project fused amapiano’s signature piano‑driven beats with pan‑African pop melodies, showcasing Sekowe’s capacity to bridge regional sounds. A week later, on 16 April, the EP “Banyana” arrived, a joint effort by Anathi and Tyler ICU that featured Sir Trill, Daliwonga, Kabza De Small, Mpura and Visca. The lead single “Banyana”, which also listed DJ Maphorisa among its producers, amassed more than 4.2 million streams and earned a double‑platinum certification from the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA), underscoring his commercial impact. The momentum continued throughout 2021. On 17 September, Sekowe and Kabza De Small released the single “Abalele”, featuring vocalist Ami Faku, adding another amapiano‑infused hit to their joint catalogue. In October, he produced two tracks for TRESOR’s album “Motion”: “Makosa” and “Nyota”, further cementing a productive partnership with the Congolese artist. November 2022 saw Sekowe collaborate with Afrika Memani on the “Road To Private” EP, which dropped on 4 November and expanded his footprint into the emerging “road‑to‑private” sub‑genre. 2023 brought additional high‑profile releases. He appeared on the chart‑topping single “Mnike” in April, a multi‑producer effort that included Tyler ICU, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee, and which reached number one on several South African billboards. In May, Sekowe and Kabza De Small unveiled a 25‑track mixtape titled “The Konka Mixtape: Sweet And Dust”, a sprawling collection that highlighted their prolific output. Beyond these headline projects, his discography lists collaborations with a wide array of artists: Runtown (“The Banger”, “Omalicha Nwa”), Kwesta (“Mayibabo”, “Afro Trap”), Mafikizolo (“Khona”, “Kucheza”, “Love Potion”), Busiswa (“Bazoyenza”), Kabza De Small (“Itemba Lam”, “Lorch”, “Hello”, “Inhliziyo”), Focalistic (“London” with Madumane, “Trust Fund” with Mpura), and the cross‑continental anthem “Soweto Baby” featuring Wizkid and DJ Bucks. He has also worked with global names such as Drake, Black Coffee, Major Lazer and Wizkid, confirming his status as a producer whose reach extends well beyond South Africa’s borders.

Touring, festival appearances and live‑show impact

Live performance has been a constant thread in Sekowe’s career. In 2021 he was selected as the opening act for Nigerian superstar Wizkid’s Made in Lagos Tour, bringing his South African sound to stadiums across the continent and exposing a broader African audience to amapiano‑infused sets. The same year he appeared at AmaFest, a multi‑stage celebration of African music and culture, where his set reinforced his reputation as a crowd‑pleasing DJ capable of navigating both intimate club environments and larger festival stages. In 2023 Sekowe performed at the Piano People Indoor Winter Festival, a venue that blends live instrumentation with electronic production. His presence on the festival bill highlighted his adaptability, as he seamlessly integrated piano‑driven house elements with the high‑energy demands of a winter indoor audience. These co‑headlining and supporting slots have not only expanded his fan base but also demonstrated his ability to command diverse live settings, from open‑air stadiums to curated indoor festivals.

Awards, nominations and public controversies

Recognition from industry bodies has punctuated Sekowe’s rise. The 2018 DStv Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards nominated him for Favourite DJ and Favourite Song of the Year, reflecting his dual identity as a performer and a producer. In 2021 he received a nomination for Best DJ at the Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards, confirming his continued relevance in South Africa’s club circuit. His most prominent accolade arrived at the Soundcity MVP Awards in Lagos, where he was crowned African DJ of the Year at a ceremony held in the Eko Convention Centre. While the source lists numerous other award organisations—African Muzik Magazine Awards, All Africa Music Awards, Dance Music Awards South Africa, MTV Africa Music Awards, Metro FM Music Awards, SA Amapiano Music Awards—the article does not specify further wins or nominations from those bodies. Sekowe’s public profile has also been marked by controversy. In May 2023 actress‑DJ Thuli Phongolo filed assault charges, alleging that Sekowe physically attacked her during an altercation. He was arrested, later released on bail, and the charges were subsequently withdrawn by Phongolo, prompting media debate about domestic‑violence allegations involving high‑profile figures. A further dispute erupted in September 2024 when singer Samthing Soweto accused Sekowe of misrepresenting his contributions to a collaborative track and of withholding royalties. Sekowe responded by questioning the extent of Samthing Soweto’s involvement and suggesting that the singer was targeting producer Mas Musiq. The exchange sparked broader industry conversations about credit attribution, royalty distribution and the complexities of collaborative creation in South Africa’s vibrant music scene.