# DJ Maphorisa

Themba Sekowe (born 15 November 1987), known professionally as DJ Maphorisa, is a South African DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter. As a record producer with a blend of house music, amapiano and afropop, he has worked with and has received production credits from several notable artists, including Wizkid, Sizwe Alakine, Kwesta, Uhuru, Drake, Black Coffee, Major Lazer, Runtown, C4 Pedro, TRESOR, Kabza De Small, Era Istrefi, Mpura, Young Stunna and Killer Kau. He was signed to Kalawa Jazmee Records prior to establishing his own record label, BlaqBoy Music.
He rose to stardom after producing several hit singles for artists of multiple music genres, such as Uhuru ("Y-Tjukuta"), Kwesta ("Ngud'"), Busiswa ("Lahla"), DJ Zinhle ("My name Is"), Professor ("Jezebel") and Shekinah ("Suited").

## Personal life

Themba "DJ Maphorisa" Sekowe was born on 15 November 1987, and raised in Soshanguve, he is the biological brother of South African DJ and record producer Myztro.

## Career

In September 2018, he released a single "Midnight Starring" featuring Moonchild Sanelly, DJ Tira and Busiswa. At the 2018 DStv Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards he received two nominations: Favourite Song Of the Year and Favourite DJ. On November 27, 2018, at the third ceremony of Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards his single "Midnight Starring" won an award for most voted-for song.

### 2019–present: Rumble in the Jungle, Piano Hub and Banyana EP

On April 9, 2021, Maphorisa, TRESOR and Kabza De Small released the collaboration studio album Rumble in the Jungle. On April 16, 2021, Anathi and Tyler ICU's studio EP Banyana was released. The EP featured Sir Trill, Daliwonga and Kabza De Small, Mpura, and Visca. The single "Banyana" surpassed 4.2 million streams and was certified double platinum by the Recording industry of South Africa. In 2021, he embarked to Made in Lagos Tour for an opening act with Wizkid. At the 2021 Music Kwaito and House Music Awards he received a nomination for Best DJ.
On 17 September 2021, he released a single "Abalele" with Kabza De Small featuring Ami Faku.
In October 2021, he produced Congolese-born singer TRESOR’s singles, "Makosa" and "Nyota" from the album, Motion.
In November 2022, he worked with Afrika Memani on the Road To Private EP, which was released on the 4th of November.
DJ Maphorisa had received the African DJ of the Year award at the Soundcity MVP Awards which were held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos.
In April 2023, he featured on hit single "Mnike" seeing other producers like Tyler ICU, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee collaborating which featured No.1 on many South African Billboards
In May 2023, he decided to collaborate with Kabza De Small on a 25 tracks mixtape project titled: "The Konka Mixtape: Sweet And Dust."

## Tours
### Co-headlining

* Made in Lagos Tour (2021) (with Wizkid)
* AmaFest (2021)
* Piano People Indoor Winter Festival 2023

## Discography

Collaborative Albums & EPs
* Our Father (with Uhuru) (2013)
* Blaqboy Music Presents Gqom Wave (2017)
* Scorpion Kings EP (with Kabza De Small) (2019)
* The Return of Scorpion Kings (with Kabza De Small) (2019)
* Scorpion King Live At Sun Arena (with Kabza De Small) (2020)
* Once Upon A Time In A Lockdown (with Kabza De Small) (2020)
* Madumane EP (2020)
* Rumble In The Jungle (with Kabza De Small & TRESOR) (2021)
* Banyana EP (with Tyler ICU) (2021)
* Ba Straata 2022
* The Konka Mixtape : Sweet & Dust (with Kabza De Small) (2023)

### Singles

* Runtown
* The Banger
* "Omalicha Nwa"
* Kwesta
* Ngud'
* "Mayibabo"
* "Afro Trap"
* whysl
* "Gang"
* "Trap"
* Mafikizolo
* khona
* Kucheza
* Love Portion
* Busiswa
* Bazoyenza
* Midnight Starring
* Himself
* Soweto Baby featuring Wizkid and DJ Bucks
* Kabza De Small
* Itemba Lam
* Lorch
* Hello
* Inhliziyo
* Focalistic
* London with Madumane
* Trust Fund with Mpura
* Other
* Banyana featuring Sir Trill Kabza De Small
* Ba Straata ft 2woshort

### Singles produced

List of singles as either producer or co-producer, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | CAN | AUS | IRL | NZ | SA | UK | US | US R&B /HH | Certifications | Album |
| "Ngud'" (Kwesta) | 2016 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | RiSA: 5× Platinum | DaKAR II |
| "One Dance" (Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla) | 2016 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ARIA: Gold BPI: Platinum RMNZ: Platinum | Views |
| "Suited" (Shekhinah) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | RiSA: Diamond | Rose Gold |
| "Midnight Starring" (featuring DJ Tira, Busiswa & Moonchild Sanelly) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||||||||

## Awards and nominations
### African Muzik Magazine Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2020 | Himself | Music Producer of the | Nominated | |

### Dance Music Awards South Africa

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2019 | "Amantombazane" | Best Amapiano Record | Won | |

### Dstv Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2018 | "Midnight Starring" | Favourite Song Of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | Himself | Favourite DJ | Nominated |
| 2022 | Scorpion Kings | Favourite DJ | Nominated |

### Humanitarian African Prestigious Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| | Himself | Music Producer of The Year | Nominated |
| | Himself | Best DJ Africa | Nominated |

### MTV Africa Music Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2016 | Himself | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | | Best African Act | Nominated |

### Metro FM Music Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2024 | "Imithandazo" | Song of the Year | Won |
| 2024 | "Imithandazo" | Best Collaboration | Won |
| 2024 | "Imithandazo" | Best Amapiano | Won |
| 2025 | "Biri Marung" | Best Amapiano Song | Pending |
| 2025 | "Yebo Lapho (Gogo)" | Best Amapiano Song | Pending |
| 2025 | "Yebo Lapho (Gogo)" | Song of the Year | Pending |
| 2025 | "Biri Marung" | Song of the Year | Pending |

### Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2018 | "Midnight Starring" | Most Voted Song | Won |
| 2021 | Himself | Best producer | Pending |
| 2021 | Himself | Best AmaPiano songs | Pending |
| 2021 | Himself | Best AmaPiano songs | Pending |

### SA Amapiano Music Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2021 | Himself | Best amapiano male DJ/Act | Nominated |

### Soundcity MVP Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2023 | Himself | African DJ of the Year | Won | |