By Celani Sikhakhane
- DJ Skillz from Richards Bay quit his Quantity Surveying degree at Mangosuthu University of Technology and has never looked back since.
- His single ‘Phumelela’, featuring Zeh Mageba and Simmy, has crossed 1.5 million views on YouTube since its release.
Zwakele Mdletshe, known as DJ Skillz, grew up in eSikhawini singing choral music. That gift eventually cost him his university degree. He has no regrets.
Skillz was studying Quantity Surveying at Mangosuthu University of Technology when he decided music was not something he could do on the side. He dropped out and went all in.
“Actually I am a choral music person since it is something I grew up with from home in eSikhawini. This gift prompted me to drop out of my Quantity Surveying degree at Mangosuthu University of Technology to pursue the music talent. Since then I never looked back,” he said.
The Richards Bay-born producer spent years building his name in the industry. He worked closely with the late Mampintsha, one half of Kwaito group Big Nuz, from 2008 until Mampintsha’s death. Some of the songs on his new EP, also called Phumelela, pay tribute to that partnership.
The lead single, “Phumelela”, features Zeh Mageba and Simmy. It has reached over 1.5 million views on YouTube. Skillz also worked on “Mamma”, a hit single by Zee Nxumalo.
The EP has added to a reputation Skillz has built over more than 15 years as one of the more consistent producers in South African music.
Pictured above: DJ Skillz, producer and longtime collaborator of the late Big Nuz member Mampintsha, is making his mark with his new EP Phumelela.
Image source: Supplied
