Zola 7
{{Short description| South African musician (born 1977)}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{redirect|Bonginkosi Dlamini|text=Not to be confused with South African politician Bonginkosi Dhlamini}}
{{other people|Zola|Zola (name)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Zola
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Bonginkosi Dlamini
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|04|24}}
| birth_place = Soweto, South Africa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = South African
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|poet|actor|TV presenter|Radio presenter}}
| years_active = 2000{{ndash}}present
| known_for = Godsent Angel
| notable_works =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = solo_singer
| alias = Zola 7
| genre = Kwaito
| instrument = Vocals
| label = {{flatlist|
- Ghetto Ruff
- Guluva Entertainment}}
| years_active = 2000{{ndash}}present
| website =
}}
}}
Bonginkosi Dlamini (born 24 April 1977), known professionally as Zola 7, is a South African kwaito musician, actor, writer, TV presenter, and poet. Dlamini began his career as an actor for Yizo Yizo, achieving national recognition and began releasing best selling music albums on township lives. He also starred in the Academy Award winning film Tsotsi in 2005, for which he also wrote the musical score.
Zola is a respected philanthropist. Through his show "Zola 7", which aired on SABC 1, he assisted numerous individuals in achieving their personal and social development goals. Notable among his initiatives is the establishment of libraries and motivations{{Cite web |last=Mpapu |first=Hopewell |title=Zola 7 on his illness, being honoured by industry peers and doing more good |url=https://www.news24.com/truelove/exclusive/zola-7-on-his-illness-being-honoured-by-industry-peers-and-doing-more-good-20220406 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=Truelove |language=en-US}}
Biography and early life
Bonginkosi Dlamini was born on 24 April 1977 and grew up in Zola, a township of Soweto. His artist name is based on his hometown.{{cite web |url=http://www.insideout.org/documentaries/kwaito/artists.asp |title=The Kwaito Generation : Inside Out :: A production of 90.9 WBUR Boston, MA |access-date=2008-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210030236/http://www.insideout.org/documentaries/kwaito/artists.asp |archive-date=10 February 2008}} The Kwaito Generation{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/jun/20/artsfeatures|title=Straight outta Jo'burg|last=Rogers|first=Douglas|date=2002-06-20|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-01-08}} Dlamini's father, believed to be part of the Mchunu clan, abandoned the family, leaving his mother to care for him and his older brother and sister when they were young.
Actor
Zola 7 became well known for his role as the notorious gangster Papa Action in the second season of the television series Yizo Yizo.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/zola-the-townships-beating-heart-6103691.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/zola-the-townships-beating-heart-6103691.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Zola: the townships' beating heart|date=2006-04-14|work=The Independent|access-date=2019-01-08}}{{cbignore}} The Papa Action's character was already popular from the first season, where it had been portrayed by another performer, Ronnie Nyakale. Zola 7 resembled Nyakale, and his performance only increased the popularity of the role. He also performed the score and played a role in the Academy Award-winning film Tsotsi (2005), and the movie Drum (2004). Zola 7 also has a prominent role in the documentary [https://www.worldcat.org/title/sharp-sharp-the-kwaito-story/oclc/697114679 SHARP! SHARP! : the Kwaito story (2003)] directed by Aryan Kaganof. In 2015 and 2016 Zola 7 had minor roles in the television series Isibaya,{{Cite web |last=Channel24 |title=Zola joins Isibaya |url=https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/news/entertainment/zola-joins-isibaya-20150518 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Daily Sun |language=en-US}} as well as Zabalaza.{{Cite web |title=Zabalaza (2013) {{!}} Season 3 {{!}} TVSA |url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/shows/viewshowseasons.aspx?showId=2042&season=3 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.tvsa.co.za}}
Television
= ''Zola 7'' =
Zola 7 was a television show presented by Zola airing from 2002 to 2010 on SABC1.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailysun.co.za/News/Entertainment/THE-RETURN-OF-ZOLA-7-20150125|title=The return of Zola 7?|last=Moganedi|first=Kgomotso|date=2015-01-15|work=Daily Sun|access-date=2019-01-08}} Each episode focused on a young person, who with support from Zola realised his or her dream.
= ''Utatakho'' =
Utatakho was a television programme produced by Connect TV in 2015 which aired on Mzansi Magic and was presented by Zola. In each episode Zola helped participants to find or reconnect with their biological fathers. Zola accompanied participating sons to meetings with their fathers and facilitated conversation. Additionally, a professional counsellor was present to mediate.{{Cite news|url=http://www.destinyman.com/2015/06/19/bonginkosi-zola-dlamini-back-with-a-bang/|title=Bonginkosi 'Zola' Dlamini back with a bang|last=Mopedi|first=Kemong|date=2015-06-15|work=Destiny Man|access-date=2019-01-08}} Having been to child court over the custody for his own children, Zola can relate to the show's content on a personal level.{{Cite news|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2015-07-02-utatakho-a-dose-of-paternity-drama|title=Utatakho - A dose of paternity drama|last=Mkhwanazi|first=Katlego|date=2015-07-02|work=Mail & Guardian|access-date=2019-01-08}}
= ''Hope with Zola'' =
Hope with Zola is a docu-reality show on Moja Love. The programme started in October 2018 and is hosted by Zola. Each episode is 30 minutes and focuses on the alleviation of social problems like youth unemployment, housing shortage or insufficient community libraries.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sundayworld/lifestyle/2018-09-02-zola-7-back-with-new-telly-show/|title=Zola 7 back with new telly show|last=Mothombeni|first=Aubrey|date=2018-09-02|work=The Sowetan|access-date=2019-01-08}} Unlike his former show, Zola 7, which focused on individuals, Hope with Zola addresses communities and aims specifically for sustainable development.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2018-09-07-wondering-if-hope-with-zola-is-the-same-as-zola-7-weve-got-the-411/|title=Wondering if Hope with Zola is the same as Zola 7? We've got the 411!|last=Kekana|first=Chrizelda|date=2018-09-07|work=Sunday Times|access-date=2019-01-08}}
Music
Bonginkosi Dlamini has enjoyed success as a Kwaito musician. Lance Stehr of Ghetto Ruff records has referred to Zola as "the second biggest brand in the country next to Nelson Mandela."[http://www.insideout.org/documentaries/kwaito/artists.asp The Kwaito Generation : Inside Out :: A production of 90.9 WBUR Boston, MA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210030236/http://www.insideout.org/documentaries/kwaito/artists.asp|date=10 February 2008}}
Zola not only performs but also writes and produces some of his own music, signing to the independent label Ghetto Ruff records. Zola is also the owner of the music company Guluva Entertainment.
Originally, Zola was not a fan of Kwaito music, because it "had no message." He has taken upon himself to change this, viewing himself as a role model. "I want to inspire a guy from the ghetto so he can stop hanging around in the corner begging and try to get some life."[http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/rhythms/southafrica.shtml BBC World Service | Rhythms of the Continent] In the song "Mdlwembe", which literally means problem child, he expresses his feelings about the neighborhood he grew up in. He talks about the horrible quality of life of the township, particularly the extreme level crime and violence. "Beware of the Zola boys; we do crime for money" demonstrates Zola's past and also the perpetual anguish of life in a ghetto.Mhlambi, Thokozani. "'Kwaitofabulous': The study of a South African urban genre." Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa, vol 1 (2004): 116-27. Today, Zola works on behalf of younger performers, helping them to be integrated into the music industry. He is a pioneer in social action and benefit projects in South Africa.[http://www.mio.co.za/article.php?cat=muso&id=507 Zola: Rising music icon of our time]
Kwaito is branded as apolitical, and often associated with the advancement of personal wealth, glamorized gangster lifestyle, and frivolous consumption themes found in much of Jamaican Dancehall and Rap. The genre is associated with a new political freedom gain since the end of apartheid in South Africa and less political strife.Stanley-Niaah, Sonjah. "Mapping of Black Atlantic Performance Geographies: From Slave Ship to Ghetto." In Black Geographies and the Politics of Place, ed. by Katherine McKittrick and Clyde Woods, 193-217. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 2007 The form of the Kwaito produced by Zola is in that case an anomaly in that it is very much politically charged and contains a social message.[http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,1731922,00.html#article_continue. 'I saw blood on the street' | Features | guardian.co.uk Film]
Zola raps in isiZulu with a high usage of Tsotsitaal. The latter is the vernacular slang in South Africa. This infusion of colloquial dialect with a national language allows for better interaction between the artists and the communityNhlanhla Sibongile Mafu, Johannesburg, 2002 "hybridization and slang in South African poetry" Kagablog 12 December 2007 South Africans in lower socio-economic classes who live in the townships and speak Tsotsitaal can relate to Kwaito music differently from Cape Town hip hop or US hip hop because of the lyrics. Additionally many of his songs describe situations of life in the townships, particularly Soweto.
On 7 July 2007 Zola performed at the South African leg of Live Earth.
Radio
Dlamini is part of the newly launched Massiv Metro, an online station pioneered by DJ Sbu.{{Cite web|title=Zola rocking the airwaves|url=https://www.enca.com/life/zola-rocking-the-airwaves|website=eNCA|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26}}
Filmography
= Television =
= Films =
- Drum (2004)
- Tsotsi (2005)
Discography
- Umdlwembe (2000)
- Khokhovula (2002)
- Bhambatha (2004)
- Ibutho (2005)
- Tsotsi (soundtrack of the 2005 motion picture)
- Impepho (2009)
- Unyezi (2011)
- Intathakusa (2014)
Awards
He has four South African Music Awards - SAMA
- Artist of the Year - 2002
- Best Soundtrack - Yizo Yizo
- Best Music Video - Ghetto Scandalous
- Best Kwaito Album - Umdlwembe
He also received three Metro FM Awards 2001
- Song of the Year - Ghetto Scandalous
- Best Album of the Year - Umdlwembe
- Best Kwaito Album - Umdlwembe{{cite web |url=http://www.redlive.co.za/happened-bonginkosi-dlamini/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191651/http://www.redlive.co.za/happened-bonginkosi-dlamini/ |archive-date=29 October 2018 |title=What Happened To Bonginkosi Dlamini AKA Zola 7 - RedLive}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.zola7.co.za/ Zola's Official Homepage]
- [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5249664 Interview with Zola] on NPR's Talk of the Nation (7 March 2006)
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zola}}
Category:South African male actors
Category:Musicians from Johannesburg
Category:South African male poets