Mdu Masilela, also known as The Godfather or Chomi Yabana, is a South African musician and one of the pioneers of Kwaito music. He played a key role in shaping the genre alongside artists like Boom Shaka, Trompies, and Mandoza in the 1990s. His influence in the music industry earned him the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award at the South African Music Awards.

Profile Summary 

Full Name	Mduduzi Masilela
Stage Name	M’du
Date of Birth	April 25th, 1970
Place of Birth	Zola, Soweto, South Africa
Age	55 as of 2025
Relationship Status	Married
Occupation	Musician
Facebook	@mdumusic
Instagram	@mdu.masilela
Twitter	@mdumasilela

Early Life

Growing up in the streets of Soweto, Mdu developed a love for music by playing his grandmother’s piano. In school, he formed several music groups until he completed his matric. After school, he teamed up with Mandla “Spikiri” Mofokeng to form the group MM Deluxe in 1988. Two years later, in 1990, he released his debut album, LA Beat. Today, he resides in his upmarket home in Morningside, near Sandton.

Career

Since he released his debut album, Mduduzi has been deeply involved in the music industry, not only as a singer but also as a composer, bassist, and keyboardist. He played a key role in launching the careers of upcoming musicians like Sharon Dee and MaWillies.

Mdu started as a producer for bubblegum artists such as Chicco, Pat Shange, and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Alongside Mandla “Spikiri” Mofokeng, he laid the foundation for his career in music production. In 1988, the duo formed the music group M-M Deluxe and released the album Where Were You? under Cool Spot Productions. Two years later, in 1990, Mdu gained recognition with his debut album, LA Beat, which had a major impact on South Africa’s house music scene.

As kwaito emerged, Mdu embraced the genre, adopting the stage name “M’Du” as a short form of his name. He became known as “The Godfather of Kwaito” for his pioneering role in shaping the genre, often competing with top kwaito producer Arthur Mafokate.

In the years that followed, Mdu established his own record label, M’Du Records, under Sony’s South African subsidiary. He produced and mentored various artists and groups, including Mashamplani, Sharon Dee, Mawillies, Ma Kap-Kap, and Chillies. Alongside his solo career, he worked on side projects like LM Jam (Let M’Du Jam), a blend of kwaito and jazz.

His contributions to the music industry earned him several awards, including the South African Music Award for Best Kwaito Album in 2001. In 2015, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the South African Music Awards.

Personal Life

Mdu Masilela is married to his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Masilela, and they have three children together. However, their marriage has faced challenges due to allegations of infidelity.

In 2016, rumors surfaced that Mdu had paid lobola for his child’s mother, Sibahle Dlamini, despite being legally married to Sarah. Earlier in 2012, the Sunday World tabloid reported that he had an extramarital affair with Bathile Mebe, an American Express cashier at OR Tambo International Airport. It was alleged that the affair resulted in a child born in 2006, which almost led to Sarah leaving him. However, she chose to forgive Mdu, and they decided to raise the child together with their three other children.

Beyond the allegations of infidelity, Mdu has also faced accusations of abuse. Reports once claimed that he had threatened Sarah with a gun, though she publicly defended her husband and denied the claims. In 2017, he was accused of assaulting Sibahle Dlamini, his child’s mother. This sparked backlash from some fans, who also compared the incident to a case involving ANC MP Mduduzi Manana, who had been accused of assault.

Albums

M’du or Die (1998)

Y U 4 Me (1995)

Ipompe  (1996)

Shwabana (Ghost Mixes) (1996)

Always Da Case (1997)

The Other Side (1998)

No Pas No Special (1999)

The Godfather (2001)

The Godfather Chissa (2002)

24 Seven (2003)

The Godfather Party (2003)

Ya Rocka (2004)

C Simple (2005)

Believe It or Not (2006)

The Godfather of Kwaito EP (2023)