Mapele is here to change the music game

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      Music

The use of technology as modes of communication, ranging from social media to mobile phones, has inspired several singers to compose new songs. One such singer is Miyelani Lennon Mahlori, who recently released his single entitled User busy.

The rising star in the house genre is known by his trade name, Mapele, and on his single he features Sho Madlozi and Nia Pearl.

“It's my time to be a game changer in the music industry,” he announced. “ I come from a musical background, where my uncle is a guitarist. As a young child, I would sing to his mellow country jams. My uncle was my mentor."

With knowledge from decades of being associated with music via the family, Mapele started producing music around 2002, but he later faced the same obstacles that every unknown artist encounters, namely that known artists did not want to work with him because of poor quality in vocals and production. “Because I knew what I wanted to achieve, I never gave up,” he said. “I learnt to turn some nos into yeses because I knew from a young age that I was born to entertain.”

He was inspired by the late Paul Ndlovu. He chose to establish himself in a style called Pandza, which is similar to the Mozambican style. He succeeded admirably, to the extent that every Mozambican artist wanted to collaborate with him.

“I went on to work with Mozambican Mr Bow and Mabermuda,” he said. “Here at home, I had worked with King Monada, Dr Malinga, Penny Penny, and Joe Shirimani, to mention but a few.”

He later dabbled in Xitsonga traditional music and worked with experienced vocalist Nurse Matlala in 2014. Their single earned them an award as best duo. Not only is he a musician, but he also holds a qualification in film and media studies. “I also carry with me the international modelling experience that I gained in Britain in 2005,” he stated.

His love of art and his dedication also stimulated his demand in local print advertisements and  he became the face of Pep and Vodacom.

He is available on Facebook.

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.