For Venda artist Thornton Andani Kanwendo, known as TheeGee, success has come not from chasing fame but from persistence, self-belief and learning from others. The rising musician, whose hit Makgowa dominated the 2023 charts, said hard work and a clear sense of purpose were key to making it in the industry.
"Artists often have ego issues and fear disappointment," he said. "They focus on being perfect rather than embracing their talent. If they work hard without complaints and take themselves seriously, they will be recognised nationally."
TheeGee's journey began in the village of Madombidzha, where his love for music quietly took root. "There was this one neighbour who used to rap, and every time he came back home, he would let me hear his music before releasing it," he recalled. "One day, he forced me to go to the studio with him, and I fell in love with the environment. After that, I started going almost every day, just to watch producers and artists do their work."
By 2019, he was producing his own music. "I never wanted to be an artist. At first, I wanted to be a producer. My first track was a house song called Deep Down. House was the easiest genre for me to start with," he said.
A turning point came when producer Uhone Luvhengo (J-Smash) encouraged him to believe in himself. "He would always call me 'G'. When I asked what it meant, he said it stood for believing in yourself, standing on your own and being bold — like the letter G. That advice stuck, and eventually it became TheeGee. But it still means 'The G', the strongest one," he said.
His breakout track Makgowa was inspired by a TikTok trend. "It was nothing big at first, but it became the biggest song of 2023 and remains a classic. It opened doors for me and everyone involved," he said.
Today, TheeGee balances Makgowa's piano-driven sound with the more commercially popular "three-steps" genre, which he treats as business. "I do all genres. As long as I collaborate with producers who are good at it, there's no way I can be wrong," he said.
He believes marketing and public relations are as important as talent. "Quality alone is not enough. A good strategy will get music to other language audiences. Stop paying for hype — real recognition comes from working hard."
From a curious boy in Madombidzha to one of Venda's most talked-about artists, TheeGee's story is a reminder that talent backed by discipline and belief can open doors on South Africa's competitive music scene.