BlaQ Diamond – Biography, Names, Age and Career

Blaq Diamond (stylized as BlaQ Diamond) is a South African Afro-pop duo hailing from Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal. The group consists of two close friends, Ndumiso Mdletshe (Ndu Browns) and Sphelele Dunywa (Danya Devs), who met in 2010 during a school trip where they both took part in a music cypher on the school bus. Their shared passion for music sparked a lasting partnership.

They eventually signed with Ambitiouz Entertainment and released their debut album Inqola in 2017, which climbed to number one on iTunes South Africa. The duo rose to national prominence in 2019 with the release of their hit single Ibhanoyi, which went on to win “Record of the Year” at the South African Music Awards (SAMA).

Building on their success, Blaq Diamond released their second studio album Umuthi in 2020. The album featured major hits like Ibhanoyi and Love Letter, both of which were certified platinum in South Africa, solidifying the duo’s place in the Afro-pop music scene.

Early Life

Blaq Diamond is a distinctive South African Afro-pop duo composed of Ndumiso Mdletshe (born 8 September 1994) and Sphelele Dunywa (born 1 December 1994), both hailing from the township of Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal. Growing up in the same small town, their shared background and strong sense of cultural identity heavily influence their music, which often references their hometown—affectionately referred to as “150”—and promotes themes of authenticity and community.

Their paths first crossed in 2010 as teenagers during a school trip, where they participated in a spontaneous rap cypher on the bus. The musical chemistry between them was immediate, and their friendship quickly blossomed into a creative partnership. They started performing at school events and local gatherings, earning attention and admiration from their community.

Recognizing the limited opportunities in Ladysmith, the duo made the bold decision to relocate to Johannesburg to chase their dreams. Life in the city wasn’t easy—they had little money and no industry connections. To support themselves, they took on menial jobs while using every free moment to write music and record at a nearby studio.

Their persistence paid off. They signed with Ambitiouz Entertainment and released their debut album Inqola in 2017, which hit number one on iTunes. Their breakout single Ibhanoyi, released in 2019, earned them the prestigious “Record of the Year” award at the SAMAs. Their follow-up album Umuthi (2020) produced two platinum-selling singles, Ibhanoyi and Love Letter, firmly establishing Blaq Diamond as one of South Africa’s most influential and authentic music acts.

Career

In early 2017, Blaq Diamond signed a record deal with Ambitiouz Entertainment and began working on their debut album. They rose to fame after releasing Inqola in 2017, which received several award nominations. The album, mainly Afro-soul, showcased their creativity. On June 19, they released the lead single “Sthandwa,” followed by “Emzini kaBaba” with an accompanying music video.
In the winter of 2017, Inqola was released to critical acclaim. It blended Afro-soul with Maskandi and umBhaqanga in a modern, youthful way. At the 24th South African Music Awards, they earned two nominations. In 2018, they performed for the first time in Pietermaritzburg at a fashion show.
On May 2, 2019, they released “Memeza” featuring Sjava as the lead single from their second album. It peaked at number 9 on the Radio Airplay Charts. On August 2, they released the second single, “Ibhanoyi,” which reached number one on the iTunes charts and won Record of the Year at the 26th South African Music Awards.
On January 23, 2020, they dropped the third single, “Love Letter,” which peaked at number 3 on iTunes and number 11 on Radio Airplay.
Their second studio album, Umuthi, was released on January 31, 2020. It features artists like Sjava, Ci Ci, Thee Legacy, and Igcokama Elisha. The album includes the singles “Memeza,” “Love Letter,” and “Ibhanoyi,” and debuted at number 1 on the iTunes Albums Charts.

In June 2020, Blaq Diamond launched Umuthi Records as a joint venture with Ambitiouz Entertainment. That same year, they collaborated on “Price to Pay” and “Uhulumeni” by DJ Miss Pru. On November 20, they released the single “Summer YoMuthi,” which debuted at number one on the Channel O Top 30 music chart.
On June 4, they released “Messiah” featuring Dumi Mkokstad, which gained 3 million views on YouTube.
At the 6th All Africa Music Awards, “Summer YoMuthi” received eight nominations, including Best Male Artist in Southern Africa, Artist of the Year in Africa, Song of the Year in Africa, Producer of the Year in Africa, Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational Music, Breakout Artiste of the Year, Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop, and Best African Duo, Group or Band.
On October 29, they released the single “Italy.”
In December 2021, Blaq Diamond parted ways with Ambitiouz Entertainment.
In early September 2022, they announced the single “Qoma” featuring Big Zulu and Siya Ntuli.
Their album Zulu Romance was released on February 29, 2024. The project blends afro-pop with maskandi and isichathamiya, and includes the singles “Qoma” and “Mangibona Wena.”

Discography

Albums

2017 – Inqola

2020 – Umuthi

2024 – Zulu Romance

Singles

2023 – Ukuthi Uyazi

2023 – Impi Yothando

2023 – Ifoni

2023 – Izikweletu

2024 – 7 Days

2024 – Again

2024 – Freedom

2024 – Piki Piki

2024 – Dubai 2.0

2025 – G Wagon