{{Short description|South African musician (born 1975)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Multiple issues| {{Notability|Music|date=March 2020}} {{BLP sources|date=March 2020}} }}
{{Infobox musical artist | name = Zwai Bala | image = | caption = | birth_name = Mzwandile Bala | birth_place = Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1975|2|15}} | genre = Kwaito, Gospel | occupation = Rapper, singer, actor | years_active = 1997–present | label = | current_member_of = *The Bala Brothers *TKZee }}
'''Mzwandile Bala''' (known by his stage name '''Zwai Bala'''; born 15 February 1975) is a South African kwaito and gospel musician.
==Education==
Bala studied at the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School, near Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, and matriculated at St Stithians College in 1994. He then pursued an online Master's Certificate in Orchestration for Film and Television at Berklee College of Music in Boston.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hashtagsquare.com/zwai-bala-biography/|title=Zwai Bala Biography|first=Kamoche|last=James|date=10 April 2018}}</ref> He came to public attention in 1997 as a member of the kwaito group TKZee.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3119|title=Zwai Bala | TVSA|website=www.tvsa.co.za}}</ref>
==Career==
When he was 11 years old, he entered ''The Shell Road to Fame'' talent show and reached the semi-finals. Together with school friends Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo 'Magesh' Tshabalala, he formed kwaito group TKZee. TKZee released their singles "Take It Eezy", holiday hit "Phalafala" and their top-selling "Shibobo",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=120|title=SAMusic}}</ref> which featured South Africa national football team player Benni McCarthy. Later, Bala began a solo musical career.
As a music director and producer, Bala has worked on musicals featuring Ali Campbell of UB40,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cookingvinylaustralia.com/ali-campbell-the-legendary-voice-of-ub40-reunited-with-astro-mickey-release-new-album-silhouette-ahead-of-australian-tour-in-december/|title=Ali Campbell – The Legendary Voice Of UB40 Reunited with Astro & Mickey release new album "Silhouette" ahead of Australian tour in December.|publisher=Cooking Vinyl|access-date=25 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910113033/http://www.cookingvinylaustralia.com/ali-campbell-the-legendary-voice-of-ub40-reunited-with-astro-mickey-release-new-album-silhouette-ahead-of-australian-tour-in-december/|archive-date=10 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> produced ''Grace'' from the two-time Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/grace-mw0001951132|title=Grace – The Soweto Gospel Choir | Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref> and has been the featured soloist at the Classical FM–Lexus Soiree at the Sandton Intercontinental.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}
He was a celebrity contestant on the first season of the SABC 2 reality competition ''Strictly Come Dancing'' in 2006, partnered with professional ballroom dancer Kego Motshabi. The pair finished third.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timelypassion.weebly.com/1/post/2014/07/strictly-come-dancing-south-africa-episode-1.html|title=Strictly Come Dancing South Africa – Episode 1|website=Timely Passion}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Songs== Bala's recorded music include: *Ndize *Umlilo-Masibase *All I Do *Black 'N Proud *Ndiredi *Moody's Mood For Love *Nozamile *Vuk'uzenzele *Play That Music *Kuyasa *Ikhaya *Bash'abafana *Tino Tino *Folkfanse-My Heritage *Hand Prints *Circle of Life *Solo *Soccer *Gux Duo *Niceland-Guguletu *Everyone Can Drum *Noble Peace *Noyana
==Television==
His television appearances include:<ref name="auto"/> *''All You Need Is Love'' – Season 2 – Host *''Clash of the Choirs South Africa'' – Season 1 – Choir Master *''Clash of the Choirs South Africa'' – Season 3 – Guest Judge *''Popstars'' – Season 2, 3 and 4 – Judge *''Pump Up The Volume'' – Season 1 – Judge *''Red Cake – Not the Cooking Show'' – Season 1 – Houseband leader
==Awards==
In 2002 he received a South African Music Award (SAMA) for his single "Lifted"<ref name="auto1"/> and in 2019 he, along with fellow TKZee members Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala, received a SAMA award for Lifetime Achievement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kayafm.co.za/tkzees-journey-to-being-awarded-the-lifetime-achievement-award/amp/|title=TKZee's journey to being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award|date=4 June 2019|website=KAYA FM}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bala, Zwai}} Category:1975 births Category:South African musicians Category:Living people Category:Alumni of St Stithians College