Ntombezinhle Jiyane (born 30 December 1983), known professionally as DJ Zinhle, is a South African DJ, producer, media personality and businesswoman.

DJ Zinhle
Zinhle in 2023
Born
Ntombezinhle Jiyane

(1982-12-30) 30 December 1982 (age 41)
Other namesHer Majesty
EducationUniversity of Johannesburg
Occupations
  • DJ
  • producer
  • media personality
  • businesswoman
Years active2002–present
Partners
Children2, including Kairo Forbes
AwardsNamibian Annual Music Award (Pan African Artist of the Year — 2020)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
Labels
Websiteerabydjzinhle.com Edit this at Wikidata

Zinhle has also pursued an acting career. She made her on-screen debut as judge in Jika MaJika, Idols South Africa, Turn It On, and 1's and 2's (2021) and appeared as a guest on the television series eKasi: Our Stories (2011), Play Your Part (2012), Tropika Island (2012), The Close Up, Rhythm City, and her own show, DJ Zinhle The Unexpected.

Early life

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Ntombezinhle Jiyane was born in Dannhauser, KwaZulu-Natal. After leaving Dannhauser, she went to stay in Newcastle, and studied at Siyamukela High School in Emadadeni, Newcastle.

Career

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DJ Zinhle started her career around 2004.[4] Initially, she wanted to be a TV presenter and never had any aspirations of being a DJ, until her brother's passion for mixing vinyls rubbed off on her and her love and passion for being a DJ grew. She got her first break as a resident DJ on a youth dance show called Jika Majika that aired on SABC 1.[5]

She worked with South African music icon Boom Shaka on the album I Put It In, which featured other notable artists like Dr Malinga, Khanyi Mbau, Mphoza, and many more. She headlined the Sisters with Soul concert along with Amanda Black.[6] At the second ceremony of Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards, she won two awards including; Best House DJ and Best House Female Artist.[7] Zinhle also headlined the Zimfest 2019 live concert, a Zimbabwean festival held in England.[8][9] Her 2019 hit single "Umlilo" gained 5.1 million streams in just three months,[10] and certified 3× platinum by the Recording industry of South Africa (RISA)[11] and it was also voted as 2019's Song of The Year.[12] DJ Zinhle was chosen as the headline act for the inaugural Red Bull Music Experience in Cape Town.[13]

"Siyabonga" with Kabza De Small, Nokwazi, Black Motion was released on November 26, 2021. The song debuted number 24 on both Local and International streaming charts.[14]

In 2021, she co-hosted talent show competition on Sabc 1 called 1's and 2's alongside DJ Tira and DJ Speedsta.[15] Towards the end of 2021, she announced Unexpected her reality show which premiered on BET Africa.[16]

"Thula" by Zinhle and Cici was released on July 7, 2023. The song debuted number 3 in South Africa and charted number 1 on Metro FM Top 30 Countdown charts.[17][18]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
Jika Majika Herself Resident DJ
2011 eKasi: Our Stories Thuli Supporting role
Rhythm City Faniswa
It's OK We're Family Herself
2012 Tropika Island Herself Judge
Idols South Africa Guest Judge
Turn It Out
2021 1's and 2's Judge
2021 DJ Zinhle- TheUnexpected Herself Her Show Main character

Accolades

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  • SAMA 19 and 12th Metro FM Awards Song of the Year nominee.
  • Named one of South Africa's Top 10 most influential women in Bona magazine.[citation needed]
  • Named one of 21 Most powerful African women by Oprah magazine.[19]
  • Channel 24 named her as the 4th most powerful celebrity in South Africa.[20]
  • Glamour magazine's Woman of the Year.[21]
  • Launched the women empowerment TV series It Takes a Village.[22]
  • In late 2019, she was named as the Top Female DJ in Africa for the 2nd year in a row.[23][24][25]
  • On 7 March 2020, she won the Forbes Woman Africa Entertainer Award.[26][27]
  • She was announced as Africas number 1 female DJ on DjaneTop list of 2021.[28]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Ceremony Prize Recipient/Nominated work Result Ref.
2019 Dance Music Awards South Africa Best Female DJ Herself Nominated [29]
2020 South African Music Awards Record of the Year (fan-voted) "Umlilo" Nominated
2021 Best Music Video of the Year Nominated
2020 Namibian Annual Music Awards Pan African Artist of the Year Herself Won [30]
2022 Global Music Awards Africa DJ of the Year Pending [31]
2024 Basadi in Music Awards Won [32][33]
Collaboration of the Year DJ Zinhle and Basetsana – "Mdali" Won
DJ Zinhle and Cici – "Thula" Nominated
Music Video of the Year Nominated
Trailblazer Award Herself Won [34]
African Entertainment Awards USA Best DJ Pending [35]

Personal life

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DJ Zinhle was in an on and off relationship with South African rapper AKA, until their split in January 2020.[1][36] She and AKA have one daughter together.[37] In 2021, she gave birth to a baby girl with her husband Bongani, also known as Murdah Bongz.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Zinhle on her relationship with aka this are easier this time". timeslive.co.za. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Dj zinhle and aka break up again". sundayworld.co.za. Retrieved 18 February 2020.[dead link]
  3. ^ a b Mpapu, Hopewell (10 September 2021). "DJ Zinhle gives birth to a baby girl | Truelove". News24. South Africa.
  4. ^ "Dj Zinhle on family — celebrity life after 15 years of music". press.news24.com. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Dj zinhles supersonic rise to stardom and finding herself in a male dominated industry". Channel24.co.za. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Dj Zinhle and Amanda Black to head sisters with soul concert". justnje.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Maliba, Amanda (26 November 2017). "DJ Zinhle, Spikiri win big at Mzansi Kwaito & House Music Awards". Independent Online.
  8. ^ "Dj Zinhle Headlines 2019 Zimfest Live". allafrica.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Dj Zinhle & Kwesta Set to Headline Lifestyle and Music Festival". musicmagsa. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Here's how Dj zinhle — Rethabile mvzzles hit song umlilo came". timeslive. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "DJ Zinhle celebrates 'Umlilo' going 3× platinum".
  12. ^ "Dj Zinhle On winning Song of the year — God told me 2020 is my year". timeslive.co.za. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Dj Zinhle headlines inaugural Res Bull Music experience". 247.africa. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  14. ^ "TOSAC Streaming – International and Local". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  15. ^ Mkhize, Lesego (27 September 2018). "DJ Zinhle to judge on SABC 1's talent show 1's and 2's". News24. South Africa.
  16. ^ Maimela, Lerato. "'Unexpected': DJ Zinhle's baby number two and reality TV show". The Citizen. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  17. ^ Magagula, Nompumelelo. "DJ Zinhle and Cici's viral hit heals hearts". City Press. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  18. ^ Tebele, Mbali (28 August 2023). ""So happy I could cry": DJ Zinhle and Cici's 'Thula' tops Metro FM chart". Briefly. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Our Artist Dj Zinhle named one of 21 most powerful african women — Oprah Magazine". rocka.co.za. Retrieved 18 January 2020.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "Meet The 10 Most Powerful Celebs in SA". channel24.co.za. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  21. ^ "Glamour Woman Of The Year Dj Zinhle". Glamour.co.za. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  22. ^ "Reality Tv — Dj Zinhle on her new reality show — It Takes A Village". Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Dj Zinhle Named Top Female Dj In Africa For the 2nd year". msn.com. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Year Review Dj Zinhle All Bags Secured — Success". briefly.co.za. Retrieved 17 January 2020.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ "Lifestyle Entertainment — Zinhle is still africa female Dj". dailyvoice.co.za. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  26. ^ "Halala! Dj Zinhle bags Forbes woman Africa entertainer award - MSN". msn.com. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Zinhle wins Forbes woman africa entertainer award". briefly.co.za. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "DJ Zinhle is Africas number 1 female DJ on DjaneTop list of 2021". Ikenaija.com. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Dance Music Awards South Africa 2019: All the winners". Music in Africa. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  30. ^ "DJ Zinhle celebrates Namibian Annual Music Award win: 'This means a lot to me'". Channel 24. 19 October 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  31. ^ Shumba, Ano (26 January 2022). "Global Music Awards Africa 2022: All the nominees | Music In Africa". Music In Africa. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  32. ^ Shumba, Ano (27 June 2024). "Basadi in Music Awards 2024: All the nominees". Music in Africa. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  33. ^ Seemela, Masego (11 August 2024). "Double delight as DJ Zinhle toasts 20 years in showbiz". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  34. ^ Simelan, Nomonde (8 August 2023). "DJ Zinhle honoured with Trailblazer Award at Basadi in Music Awardsby". Bona Magazine. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  35. ^ "African Entertainment Awards USA 2024: All the nominees". Music in Africa. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Dj zinhle and aka break up again". Sunday World. Retrieved 18 February 2020.[permanent dead link]
  37. ^ "Dj Zinhle — Baby Kairo". zalebs. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
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