Bongekile Mildred Simelane (born 25 March 1994) prominently known as Babes Wodumo(also gqom queen),
Babes Wodumo is a part of the music connoisseurs who were pivotal in influencing the gqom genre's international acclaim.She appeared on the compilation by Kendrick Lamar on a song titled " Redemption".[ 2017 BET Awards Billboard] In July 2020, she released her second album Idando Kazi which included the hit song, "eLamont" featuring Mampintsha (former Big Nuz member) as well as Skillz.
Life and career
1994-2013: Early childhood
Bongekile Mildred Simelane was born in March 25, 1994 in
Lamontville,
Durban. Her father Welcome Simelane is a Bishop.
2014-2019: Career beginnings, breakthrough, Black Panther
She released her first song titled "
Desha" produced by Sir Bubzin, In 2014. After she signed a record deal with West Ink, one of her hit singles "
Wololo" featuring Mampintsha was released in December 2015 in South Africa.
The song earned her a nomination for Best Breakthrough Artist and Song of the Year at MTV Africa Music Awards.
Her debut gqom studio album Gqom Queen Vol. 1 proceeded with three singles " Wololo", " Umgan Wami" and " Mercedes". Upon its release the song surpassed 28 million streams and debuted at number 3 on iTunes charts.
Subsequently she was featured on the Black Panther(soundtrack) compilation by Kendrick Lamar.
2020-present: Idando Kazi
In July of year 2020, she released her sophomore studio album
Idando Kazi via West Ink Records
featuring Mampintsha, Skillz, T.N.S,Madanon,Worst Behavior and many others
. was released as the lead single of the album which debuted at number 3 on the South African iTunes charts.
The album was nominated at the 27th South African Music Awards. In 2021 herself and her husband premiered their reality TV show Uthando Lodumo which aired on Showmax.
Personal life
Domestic violence case
In 2019, reports surfaced that Wodumo's boyfriend and manager Mandla "
Big Nuz" Maphumulo had physically assaulted her. Wodumo broadcast the incident on
Instagram Live. Mampintsha was arrested on suspicion of assault.
[ Mampintsha arrested for alleged assault of Babes Wodumo on iol.co.za] Even though the relationship between the two had appeared to be over, both parties agreed to counselling and reconciled and later on appeared to be on good terms. Mampintsha later on featured on her second album,
Idando Kazi.
Marriage and children
Babes Wodumo married Mandla Maphumulo in 2020.
In 2021 they had their first child.
Her husband and long-time collaboration partner later passed away in December 2022, as reported due to a stroke.
SAMAs
In 2017, Wodumo was the most nominated artist at the 23rd South African Music Awards. However, she did not win any award, and this led to an altercation after the singer accused the personnel from the SAMA 23 of buying awards.
Discography
Studio albums
-
Gqom Queen Vol.1
-
Indando Kazi
Singles
|
|
| eLamont |
| Abadala |
| Angeke |
| Corona |
| Dankie Jack |
| Intombi Yesgebengu |
| Izitha |
| Levels |
| MaTen Ten |
| Umzimba |
| Umzimba |
| Umzimba |
| Ungangyeki |
Awards and nominations
|-
|rowspan="3" | 16th
Metro FM Music Awards
|Gqom Queen Vol.1
|Best Dance Album
|
|-
|Gqom Queen Vol.1
|Best Female Album
|
|-
|Wololo (feat. Mampintsha &
Distruction Boyz
|Song Of The Year)
|
|-
|rowspan="5" | 23rd South African Music Awards
|Herself
|Newcomer Of The Year
|
|-
|Female Artist Of The Year
|Herself
|
|-
|Wololo (feat. Mampintsha &
Distruction Boyz)
|Record Of The Year
|
|-
|Gqom Queen Vol.1
|Album of the Year
|
|-
|Female Artist Of The Year
|Herself
|
|-
|rowspan="1" | MTV Africa Music Awards 2016
|Song Of The Year
|Wololo (feat. Mampintsha and
Distruction Boyz)
|
|-
|rowspan="1" | BET Awards 2017
|Herself
|Best International Act:
Africa
|
|-
|rowspan="1" | Dance Music Awards 2017
|Gqom Queen Vol.1
|Best Dance Female Artist
|
|-
|rowspan="1" | 2017MTV EMA
|Herself
|Best African Act
|
|-
|rowspan="1" | All African Music Awards 2018
|Herself
|Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa
|
|-
|rowspan="4" | South African Gqom Awards 2019
|Ka Dazz
|Song Of The Year
|
|-
|Herself
|Best Female
|
|-
|Ka Dazz
|Best Music Video
|
|-
|Ka Dazz
|Best Music Video Director
|
|-
|27th South African Music Awards
|
Idando Kazi
| Best Gqom Album
|
|}
