The story of PHUMLANI MGOBHOZI

The journey of a musician turned businessman

A Legend of Maskandi

Phumlani was born in Mahlongwa, Umkomaas, Kzn. His father was chief at Umkomaas until his death in 1989. Phumlani and his surviving family moved to Umgababa, but due to the continued political violence at this time the remaining family move again to Folweni at Mangamazini. Phumlani found his voice singing Gospel at the church and in the school choir.

In 2002, he decided to follow his dream of becoming a shining star in the music industry, by packing his bags for Johannesburg. He found life difficult until he met Velaphi Mthimkhulu of Bheka Music, who produced his first gospel album called Thuma Mina. This album performed very well, specially the title track, which receiving a lot of air play on the major radio stations.

In 2003, Phumlani was approached by Sonke Records to return to Kzn and sign to their label. During the recording of his second album he lost his sister, Zethu which inspired him to complete the album in time to launch the album Yizwa Baba at her funeral. The album did not perform as well as expected and that prompted Phumlani to return to Johannesburg.

Phumlani signed with MG Records in 2004. A new album called Udlalile Ngempilo Yami is recorded. But further tragedy affected Phumlani during the recording of this album, with his brother, Nkosinathi, who was in his last year of studying law, dying in a car accident. Phumlani dedicate a song to his late brother called Nkosinathi, which was recorded on this album. The Album was very popular, with a lot of radio play. He appeared on a SABC television show called Glory Hallelujah and performed 3 songs.

In 2006 Phumlani released his best album to that time, called Isimemo. The title track was a Gospel hit, which shot Phumlani to the forefront of the Gospel scene. He performed with a number of big name artists of the time and travel extensively including performing in Swaziland. Sifiso Ncwane and Deborah Fraiser were some of the artists that Phumlani shared the stage with at this time.

The music industry was not kind to Phumlani through and despite his many successes, financially he was forced to return to Kzn to support his family, especially as at this time he lost his mother, Magumede and his older brother had already started his family and was no longer at home.

Phumlani took up a position working at a Kzn paint manufacturing company. At this company he was introduced by friend Patrick Khambule, to Geoff Evans, who was the Group Chief Financial Officer. Geoff joined Phumlani as his business manager in 2010 and they formed a Record Label Called PM Productions that they jointly own. PM Productions recorded a Gospel album Ujesu Unamandla. One of the tracks in this album was a Gospel Maskandi song called Ungamdeli, featuring famous maskandi artist, PhuzaKemisi’s son, Thula Sizwe. While recording this album Phumlani lost his sister Khonzeni.

Geoff fell in love with the Maskandi song Ungamdeli and suggested the Phumlani focus on Maskandi, as he thought that Phumlani’s real talent was in this genre. Phumlani agreed and went to work on a new Maskandi album. He writes all his own lyrics and arranges all instrumental. During the writing of the new Maskandi songs he lost another sister, Ntokozo. The album then went to the studios in Durban to be recorded and during the final session, he received news that his eldest brother Dumisani had also passed away. Through all the pain of another loss, Phumlani stuck to his motto of never giving up and working through the painful experiences to make something of himself, for his family. He dedicated this new album to his family that are still with him:- Yani Mbutho, Vela Mgobhozi and last born Thembile Ngiba.

In the new Album, Phumlani worked with a popular Maskandi artist, Mkhanyiselwa of Abagqobi, and produced in studio by Lucky Lekuka. The new Maskandi album was released in January 2014 under PM Productions Label, entitled Is’qomaqomane. It is currently being played on a number of national radio stations and growing in popularity swiftly. Phumlani performed at the Kokstad Maskandi festival in February 2014 which was any outside broadcast by Ukhozi Fm and Umhlobo Wenene and featured Phuzekemisi and other Maskandi stars. Phumlani also performed at Umgababa Maskandi Festival and Scottbough Maskandi show to large crowds.

Phumlani has recently been performing at a number of Traditional Events and Political Rallies, to large crowds who shout and scream for him to play Is’qomaqomane, the title track of his first Maskandi Album. Phumlani performed at the 2014 SATMA Awards Opening Ceremony as well as the Nominations Ceremony in Durban and Mafikeng respectively. PM Productions have released 3 music videos from the Is’qomaqomane album.

The first music videos Komalume, Sephalaphala and Is’qomaqomane, was recent shot at the area of his birth Mahlongwa at Mgobhozini. This is fitting as the song talks about his uncle calling him to come home. These videos are played regularly on a number of TV stations to this day. In late 2016 Phumlani recorded his second Maskandi Album called Wembulali Ngyakhala. It is still being played on the large national radio stations. This album features another maskandi artist signed with PM Productions, Thwalofu aka Sipho Khoza, who is credited with being one of the founders of the Maskandi genre.

Phumlani joined Nashua South Coast in June 2017 and has been able use the skills learnt running the PM Productions business to outperform expectations as a sales representative. To date he has already received 3 Salesman of the year awards and employee of the year in 2019. Phumlani has continued to record new albums and released his third Maskandi album, Emahlongwa eMkomazi as a dedication to his area of birth and his family. The title track has been played significantly over the last 2 years on major radio stations. In 2020 Phumlani started presenting as a DJ on Radio Sunny South, with Sunday evening slot focused on education.

He was well received by his listeners and had offers for other radio stations, which he has put on the back burner for now as his work with Nashua has been very busy and he has been working on his latest release. I am sure this will not be the end of his Radio presenting career as he has a natural gift of talking and engaging with people. Phumlani returned to studio in 2021 to take his music to the next level. He has just completed recording of the album tilted Ngiy’eMthatha. This is a significant album and song as it features Maskandi legend Thokozani Langa on the track.

It was a super experience for Phumlani to work with Thokozani and I am sure that the listeners will be dying to hear this track on radio soon. The album also features a track called Hhebe Usuthu- Viva Amazulu a dedication to the local soccer franchise which has had an inspiring year. So much so that Phumlani has had to retire his former club shirt for the new Usuthu one. The Album is a compilation of 7 new tracks and a few of his most successful songs from previous albums, including Isqomaqomane and uNembeza (featuring Thwalofu).

The future looks bright for Phumlani and given his long journey to here, who knows where he will be in the next 5 years.