KEKELINGO

ABOUT

From performing on European stages to the Apollo Theatre in New York, Gregory “Keke” Mabusela of The Muffinz fame has now embarked on a new journey as a solo artist.

Born iin Soweto, South Africa. His mother gave birth to him alone in a four-bedroom house, which would become the premise of his debut single (Khonza) as a solo artist.

His real interest in music began in 2001 when his Arts and Culture teacher assigned the class to create musical instruments. Kekelingo started off by building plastic drums and horns from recycled buckets, tins and 2-Litre cold drink plastic containers.

Fast forward to 2007, Kekelingo would busk for tourists in Vilakazi Street, Orlando and in Newtown outside the Market Theatre. Whilst busking in Newtown in 2008, Kekelingo had a chance meeting with his icon, the late Bra Hugh Masekela, who ended up naming his plastic horn, the “Keke horn”.

In 2009, South Africa got to hear and see the “Keke horn” on the first Season of SA's Got Talent where Kekelingo would reach the semi- finals. This nationwide competition catapulted him into the spotlight.

It was only in 2010 however that Kekelingo’s musical journey as a vocalist kicked off. Whilst a drummer and backing vocalist for a band called Soul Society, Kekelingo met a member of a university band that invited him to stand in for their drummer who had just started work after university. Later that week they played at a rock festival called Thorn Fest.

In 2012, The Muffinz would then go on to release their critically acclaimed debut album titled Have You Heard, which earned them four South African Music Awards (SAMAs) nominations and led to some amazing accolades in Kekelingo’s musical journey.

From 2017 to mid-2019, Kekelingo embarked on theatre production work as a music curator and performer with The Centre for the Less Good Idea by William Kentridge in Maboneng, which culminated with Kekelingo performing at the Frascati Theatre in Holland in the production Enyangeni, which received rave reviews by The New York Times.

In 2020, the stage name Kekelingo was officially born (choosing to adopt the name of the language in which he sings and created) as he embarked on a solo musical journey and signed with the Vth Season 

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