Zwai Bala is a South African gospel artist, actor, and producer, best known as the eldest member of the Bala Brothers trio. Coming from a musically gifted family, he made history as the first black member of the prestigious Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School.

Zwai later became part of the popular kwaito group TKZee, contributing to their success in the South African music scene. His production talents earned him a Grammy nomination for his work on the Soweto Gospel Choir’s album Grace.

Beyond music, Zwai has built an extensive television career, featuring in soap operas, hosting various shows, and serving as a judge on the reality talent competition Popstars since 2003.

Early Life 

Zwai Bala (born 15 February 1975) is a South African musician, actor, and producer from Uitenhage, Eastern Cape. As the eldest of the Bala Brothers—alongside Loyiso and Phelo Bala—his musical journey was deeply rooted in family tradition. His parents met in a choral group, and his grandfather was a respected choral composer, making music an integral part of their lineage.

Despite growing up in Kwa-Nobuhle, outside Port Elizabeth, in a home without electricity and amid the challenges of apartheid, Zwai’s musical talent shone through from an early age. By five, he was already passionate about singing, and by ten, with his grandfather’s guidance, he had assembled his own choir.

In 1988, at just 12 years old, Zwai made history as the first black member of the prestigious Drakensberg Boys’ Choir. His achievement was groundbreaking, making national headlines and inspiring his younger brothers to follow in his footsteps. Around the same time, he secured a role in King Africa, a South African stage musical, and also landed a record deal with a gospel group—setting the stage for a successful career in the music industry.

Education

Bala studied at the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School near Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, before completing his matric at St Stithians College in 1994. He later pursued an online Master’s Certificate in Orchestration for Film and Television at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1997, he gained public recognition as a member of the kwaito group TKZee.

Career

At 11 years old, Bala participated in The Shell Road to Fame talent show, reaching the semi-finals. His schooling in Johannesburg marked the beginning of a major shift in South African music. There, he connected with peers who shared his love for music, particularly beatboxing and hip-hop—genres that were gaining global recognition at the time. These influences merged with kwaito, leading to the creation of a groundbreaking new sound.

In 1997, Bala and his school friends Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala formed the kwaito group TKZee. The group quickly gained popularity with hits like Take It Eezy, the holiday anthem Phalafala, and their best-selling single Shibobo, which featured South African football star Benni McCarthy. Eventually, Bala pursued a solo career in music.

As a music director and producer, Bala worked on major productions, including collaborations with Ali Campbell of UB40. He also produced Grace for the two-time Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and was the featured soloist at the Classical FM–Lexus Soirée at the Sandton Intercontinental.

In 2006, Bala competed in the first season of Strictly Come Dancing on SABC 2, where he was partnered with professional dancer Kego Motshabi. The pair finished in third place.

That same year, Bala joined forces with his brothers, Loyiso and Phelo, to form Bala Brothers, a group that showcased their family’s deep musical talent. They released their debut album B3 in 2006 under Sony Entertainment, featuring the popular song Masibuyelane. Their music resonated across different demographics, symbolizing unity through song.

Despite pursuing solo careers, the trio continued working together. By 2013, they had established their own record label, Bala Brothers Production, through which they released Live at Emperors Palace. In 2015, they signed a deal with Warner Classics, which released their self-titled album Bala Brothers in the U.S. The album, recorded at the Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg, climbed to eighth place on the Billboard World Music Charts just nine days after its debut on March 12. 

Television

His television appearances includes:

All You Need Is Love – Season 2 – Host

Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Season 1 – Choir Master

Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Season 3 – Guest Judge

Popstars – Season 2, 3 and 4 – Judge

Pump Up The Volume – Season 1 – Judge

Red Cake – Not the Cooking Show – Season 1 – Houseband leader

Awards

In 2002, Bala received a South African Music Award (SAMA) for his single Lifted. In 2019, he, along with his TKZee bandmates Kabelo Mabalane and the late Tokollo Tshabalala, was honored with a SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their contributions to South African music.

Personal Life

Melanie and Zwai Bala were married for ten years before officially separating in 2018. Although the couple initially remained silent about their split, rumors circulated regarding the reasons behind it. Five months after their announcement, Melanie Bala shared exclusive insight, explaining that their relationship had become strained, and they felt it was more mature to part ways rather than remain in an unhappy marriage filled with conflict.

She acknowledged that after being together for seventeen years, they had both changed and evolved into different people. Despite their separation, Melanie emphasized that they continued to co-parent their children and maintained mutual respect. The decision to divorce was mutual, and they remained on good terms.