Khokho Madlala

Khokho Madlala is the hidden face behind the lone powerful voice on the television series DiepCity, a South African recording artist, songwriter, and soundtrack composer who hails from Port Shepstone KZN. She fell in love with music when it gave her a voice, literally, because her husky voice and asthma initially blocked her speech. She comes from the humble beginnings of a family choir consisting of 13 siblings, upgraded to local choirs at a tender age of seven, and never looked back. She soon graduated to corporate engagements with ensembles, which led straight to her solo career as a vocalist. Madlala’s sound is embedded in ancestral African Jazz, and is capable of expanding as necessary. The sound was born from her mother and father’s love for Amahubo, Ingoma, Ubungoma, and Zion. African music and other experts have contributed greatly to her sound; for example, Madlala has performed alongside giants like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mbuso Khoza, Mafikizolo, and The Soil, to name just a few, experiences where she was often the youngest African musician present. Madlala’s achievements include performances at King Shaka International Airport, the Ballroom Dance International Competition at ICC, soundtracks for SABC 1’s telenovela Uzalo (2014–16), and collaborations with Blackbrain and Mnet on soundtracks for Vula Vala, Boxing Day, and DiepCity (2019–21). Madlala was a winner at the Kumisa Industry Night (2019), first runner-up in the MTN Megastar singing competition (2019), and a contender on The Voice – Knockouts (2018). She has performed as a part of Freedom the Musical (2018, ensemble), Kiu (2018, lead singer), That Night of Trance (2018, lead singer and actress), Sarafina! (2017, ensemble with lines), and Shona the Musical (Edinburg Fringe Festival 2022; lead singer, actress, and vocal coach). Most recently, she has participated and performed in Letters of Hope as a lead actor and lead singer and in Season 10 at the Centre for the Less Good Idea.