Ringo Madlingozi

**Ringo Madlingozi** (wey dem born am 12 December 1964) be South African singer, songwriter, record producer den former member for National Assembly of South Africa. Madlingozi rise come popular after he plus ein band Peto win de Shell Road to Fame contest for 1986. Later, he form one group wey dem call Gecko Moon together plus Alan Cameron, ein fellow Peto member.

## Early life
Dem born Madlingozi insyd Peddie, Eastern Cape. One chance encounter plus producer den head of Island Records, Chris Blackwell, change how Madlingozi ein creative life go. Madlingozi talk say, "Blackwell lash me say I no dey follow wetin I sabi pass – my people, my language den my culture." He talk say e be like light shine for ein head top, den dat thing make am record ein first album, *Vukani*.

Dis album change Madlingozi ein music direction. De word *Vukani* mean "Wake Up", den dis album root am strong inside African pop genre. E show de "ukuxhentsa" rhythms wey inspire am from ein childhood time, when he dey hear traditional healers – *amagqirha* – for ein area, den he dey appreciate demma rhythms. As he add modern sound but still hold tight de Xhosa guitar tradition, e build wetin now dem dey call de "Ringo" sound. Dis sound come grow inside many of ein other albums, each one dey build top de success of de one before.

## Career

### Music
Madlingozi later form one group wey dem call *Gecko Moon* plus Alan Cameron, wey be ein partner for Peto. Demma popular hit track be *"Green-Green"*, wey be crossover song wey music lovers really like.

Madlingozi ein first solo album *Vukani* sell tens of thousands of copies.

After dat, he win plenti awards for ein albums from de South African Music Awards (SAMA) den de Kora Awards. Among dem, he win Best Male Artist for Southern Africa plus de whole African continent. He still join body do collabo plus UB40, one international group, under de United Nations Global AIDS awareness program, where he sing de Xhosa part for de song *"Cover Up."*

### Politics
Insyd May 2019, dem swear Madlingozi in as Member of Parliament under de sixth administration of South Africa ein democratic government.

Insyd June 2018, Madlingozi catch criticism because he support Julius Malema ein controversial talk wey talk say most Indian den Coloured people for South Africa dey racist towards Black South Africans. Madlingozi talk dis same thing for social media, based on ein own experience of racism while he dey grow for Cape Town. He lash out on de media say dem dey dismiss Malema ein talk as "rhetoric," and say journalists dey twist hard truths because of demma own bias, instead of informing de public. Dis ein defence of Malema cause mix feelings—some people hail am for ein honesty, others blast am for making generalisation.

## Artistic influences
Madlingozi ein vocal hero be Victor Ndlazilwane. Na chaw upcoming artists like Nathi Mankayi den Vusi Nova be influenced by Madlingnozi.

## Philanthropy work
Ringo Madlingozi dey do plenty community outreach work. He dey support places like Takalani Home for the Disabled, Sinethemba Home, Van Rijn Place of Safety, Siyazigabisa Home of Hope, plus Enkuselweni Place of Safety. De kind help wey he dey give include money support, donations, benefit concerts, music training, plus mentoring of children. For Sinethemba, he dey act like parent—he dey guide de children den help for school programs. For Durban, he join hand start de Adopt a Child Project to support orphans. He too be ambassador for HIV/AIDS and anti-abuse campaigns, den he dey work together plus Khuluma Ndoda, one initiative wey dey fight against abuse of women.

Madlingozi show face as celebrity guest for de third special TV edition of de quiz show *Test the Nation*, wey dem call *National Parenting Test*.

## Discography
Source:

* *Vukani* (1996)
* *Sondelani* (1997)
* *Mamelani* (1998)
* *Into Yam*' (1999)
* *Buyisa* (2000)
* *Ntumba* (2002)
* *Baleka* (2004)
* *Ndim'lo* (2006)
* *The Coming Of Dawn* (2007)
* *Qhubeka* (2008)
* *Jayiva Sbali* (2010)
* *Vukani* (2014)
* *Ikhwelo* (2025)
* *Love songs* (2006)
* *Ringo Live DVD* (2003)
* *Ringo Live CD* (2003)

## Awards den nominations

## References


## External links

* Ringo Madlingozi discography at Discogs
* Ringo Madlingozi at AllMusic