| Birth name | Thandeka Nontobeko Ngema |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 16 December 1994 (age 31) |
| Birth place | Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Alma mater | University of South Africa (UNISA) |
Thandeka Nontobeko Ngema (born 16 December 1994), professionally known as MaWhoo, is a South African singer-songwriter, and model.[1][2][3] She got wide recognition after releasing her debut single "Umshado" featuring Heavy-K.
Ngema has also appeared in several music videos, including acting in cameo roles. She has also modeled for brands in and outside of South Africa. She has also worked for Tribe Afrique, House of Supreme, and Convoy Clothing South Africa. She has collaborated with the likes of DJ Maphorisa, Master KG, Tsisto, Kabza De Small and Vigro Deep.[4][5][6]
Apart from her home country, Ngema has performed in African countries such as Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.[7][8][9]
Background
Early life
Thandeka Nontobeko Ngema was born on 16 December 1994 in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She started her music career at a young age. When she was eleven years old, she took her recorded song to a local radio station for air play, but was refused for being too young.[10][11]
Stage names
In an interview, she shared that her stage name means "magical" in Japanese language. She reasoned that the name came up with Okmalumkoolcat.[12][13]
Education
Ngema has a degree obtained from the University of South Africa (UNISA).[14]
Career
Her single "Bengicela" with GL_Ceekay, Thukuthela featuring Jazzworx was released June 13, 2025.[15]It reached number one on Apple Music all-genres charts, trending song on YouTube, viral song on Shazam and number 5 on Spotify top songs charts respectively.[16]
Discography
Studio albums
- What a Time to Be Alive (2022)
- The Chosen (2023)
- The Sound of Magic (2024)
- Amazwi Okubonga (2025)
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZA | |||||||
| "Umshado" (featuring Heavy-K) | 2019 | — | |||||
| "Ngiyamthanda" (MaWhoo, Master KG featuring Lowsheen) | 2021 | — | |||||
| "Inkanyezi" (MaWhoo, Master KG featuring Lowsheen) | — | ||||||
| "Ngithakazele" (MaWhoo, DJ Fanzy featuring Andry K) | 2022 | — | |||||
| "Ngithakazele" | — | ||||||
| "10k Ye McDonald's" (MaWhoo featuring Mdoovar, 9umba) | — | ||||||
| "Thokoza" (Sam Deep, MaWhoo) | — | RiSA: 2× Platinum [17] | Ace of Spades | ||||
| "Umlilo" (DJ Ngwazi, Pouler D’musiq, MaWhoo) | 2023 | — | |||||
| "Nduma Ndumane" (MaWhoo, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Da Muziqal Chef) | — | ||||||
| "Bayangzonda" (Mac Lopez, MaWhoo) | — | ||||||
| "NgizoWela" (Slade, MaWhoo, Tycoon featuring Marcus MC, Stacy) | — | ||||||
| "Ngifunani" (Femi Large, MaWhoo) | — | ||||||
| "Imizi Yobaba" (Soulfreakah, MaWhoo) | 2024 | — | |||||
| "Uthukela" (MaWhoo featuring Harry Cane, Eemoh) | _ | ||||||
| "Gucci" (Mthandeni SK featuring MaWhoo) | _ | Non-album single | |||||
| "Ngeke" (Yumbs, Zwayetoven & MaWhoo featuring Mthunzi) | _ | Non-album single | |||||
| "Khuluma" (Oskido, Master KG & MaWhoo featuring Lilyfaith, Lowsheen & Theo Kgosinkwe) | _ | Non-album single | |||||
| "Uzizwa Kanjan' (Jazzworx, Thukuthela, MaWhoo & GL_Ceejay) | 2025 | 5 | Non-album single | ||||
| "Ziphi Nkomo" (Sir Trill, MaWhoo & B33kay SA featuring DJ 2k, Frank Mabeat & Tumisho) | _ | Non-album single | |||||
| "Phakade Lami" (Da Capo, Soul Star & MaWhoo) | _ | Non-album single | |||||
| "Bengicela" (MaWhoo, GL_ Ceejay & Thukuthela featuring Jazzworx) | 1 | Amazwi Okubonga | |||||
| "Smomondiya" (Frank Mabeat & MaWhoo featuring B33kay SA) | _ | Non-album single | |||||
| "Sono Sam" (TBO, MaWhoo & Ntsika featuring Ngwato & Ave Songsmith) | _ | Non-album single | |||||
| "MA AFRIKA" (Deep Sen, MaWhoo & M.J featuring Ntando Yamahlubi) | _ | Non-album single | |||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZA | |||||||
| "Moya Wami" (Oscar Mbo featuring MaWhoo) | 2020 | — | Gold | For the Groovists | |||
| "Bambelela" (Caltonic SA featuring Sje Konka, MaWhoo, Thabz Le Madonga) | — | ||||||
| "Uqobo Lwami" (DJ Fanzy featuring MaWhoo) | 2021 | — | |||||
| "Indoda Nge Card" (DJ Moscow, Deepsen, Eddie The Vocalist feat. DJ Moscow, MaWhoo) | 2022 | — | |||||
| "Khumbul' Ekhaya" (Knowley-D featuring Busta 929, MaWhoo) | — | ||||||
| "Dali Wam" (Pabi Cooper, Yumbs featuring MaWhoo, Nkosazana Daughter) | 2023 | — | |||||
| "Isthutha" (Inkinga Abangan Bam)" (Sam Deep, De Mthuda featuring Mawhoo, Mkeyz) | — | ||||||
| "Ungiphethe Kahle" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Nokwazi, MaWhoo, Mashudu & LeeArt) | — | ||||||
| "Noma Kanjani" (Sino Msolo featuring Kabza De Small, MaWhoo, Azana) | — | ||||||
| "Uthando" (The Groovist featuring MaWhoo) | — | ||||||
| "Zibonakalise" (HKs featuring MaWhoo) | — | ||||||
| "Wena My Dali" (Focalistic featuring Ch'cco, MaWhoo, EeQue, Thama Tee) | — | ||||||
| "Impilo" (Marlode & Owams featuring 2woBunnies, MaWhoo, Leandra.Vert, Toby Franco, Gilano, Sponge 101) | — | ||||||
| "Kutsa" (DJ Sliqe featuring Yanga Chief, MaWhoo, 2woshort, Makwa) | — | ||||||
| "Ungithandile" (Baby Momo featuring MaWhoo, Ceenday, Jay Sax, Shino Kikai, DJ 2K) | 2024 | — | |||||
| "Ngifa Nawe" (MFR Souls, Kabza De Small featuring MaWhoo, Bassie, T-Man SA, Shane907) | — | ||||||
| "Amabhoza" (Aymos, Mas Musiq featuring MaWhoo) | — | Impilo | |||||
| "Ematshwaleni" (Kususa, Anatti featuring MaWhoo, Noxolo Ngema, King Deetoy) | — | ||||||
| "Injabulo" (Lily Faith featuring Theo Kgosinkwe, X-Wise, Oskido, MaWhoo) | — | ||||||
| "Gucci" (Mthandeni SK, featuring MaWhoo) | 1[18] | ||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Other charted and certified songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZA | |||||||
| "Kulula" (Mawhoo, DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small) | 2022 | — | Gold[19] | What a Time to Be Alive | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Personal life
There were reports that Ngema is dating Hlubi Nkosi.[20][21] The couple had been reported exchanging gifts.[22][23]
Achievements
Feather Awards
!Ref. |- |rowspan=2|2025 |div style="text-align: center";> rowspan=2|Herself |Musician of the Year | |rowspan=2|[24] |- |Best Styled Individual |
References
- ^ "MaWhoo's 'Kulula' Surpasses 1 Million Streams". slikouronlife.co.za. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Miller, Sergio (2024-03-08). "Mawhoo's shocking revelation! American A-listers who slid into her DMs". Bona Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Masuku, Brooklyn (2023-09-05). "MaWhoo Drops New Single, 'Ingonyama'". Gagasi World. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Watch MaWhoo's Live Acoustic Session". slikouronlife.co.za. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Focalistic joins forces with Ch'cco, Mawhoo, EeQue, and Thama Tee for 'Wena My Dali': Watch". GRUNGECAKE™. 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Pabi Cooper And Yumbs Drop 'Dali Wam' Featuring Nkosazana Daughter & MaWhoo". slikouronlife.co.za. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "The Chronicle - Breaking news". 28 January 2024.
- ^ Moroeng, Moroba (2024-01-10). ""We are in": Kabza De Small shares first guest for one-man show". Briefly. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Rethabile, Thandi (2025-06-05). "MaWhoo, GL_Ceejay & Thukuthela – Bengicela (Tholukuthi ) ft. JazzWorx". CeeMuzic. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Thesaga.co.za". thesaga.co.za. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ TLHOAELE, KGALALELO. "Mawhoo - I was so heartbroken". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Gcaba, Jessica (2024-01-09). ""It means magical": How Okmalumkoolkat gave Mawhoo her stage name". Briefly. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Mukotekwa, Leeroy (2024-01-10). "WATCH - Mawhoo's stage name meaning, relationship with Okmalumkoolkat revealed" (in en-ZA). The South African. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Kings (2023-01-10). "Mawhoo (Nontobeko Thandeka Ngema) Biography, Early Life, Age, Career, Songs, Net Worth". KingMinds. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "SA: MaWhoo returns with new single Bengicela". 13 June 2025.
- ^ Pasiya, Lutho (2025-06-18). "MaWhoo expresses gratitude as 'Bengicela' tops global music charts". Independent Online. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ^ "Certifications 2024". The Recording Industry of South Africa. 2024-10-27.
- ^ "Local Streaming Chart Top 10". The Official South Africa Charts. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ Moloi, Atlehang (2023-05-18). "MaWhoo's 'Kulula' Reaches Gold Status". Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ "'The women he loved were me and Londie London' — Mawhoo on her relationship with Hlubi Nkosi" (in en-ZA). TimesLIVE. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Mukotekwa, Leeroy (2023-08-14). "Trouble in paradise already? Hlubi Nkosi and Mawhoo spark breakup rumours" (in en-ZA). The South African. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Ngcobo, Nokuthula (2023-10-29). "'SIU doing press-ups': Hlubi Nkosi buys Bentley for himself, 'Mercedes for Mawhoo'" (in en-ZA). The South African. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Mukotekwa, Leeroy (2023-12-30). "WATCH - Mawhoo's Ngilimele live performance trends" (in en-ZA). The South African. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Feather Awards 2025 in SA: All the nominees". Music in Africa. 2025-10-15. Retrieved 2025-10-20.