Qwabe Twins – Biography, Names, Age and Career

Qwabe Twins is a South African Afro-pop duo made up of identical twins Virginia and Viggy Qwabe from KwaZulu-Natal. They gained national attention as standout contestants on season 15 of Idols South Africa, where their powerful performances earned them a strong fan base. After Virginia’s elimination, Viggy withdrew from the show amid claims of bullying and rigging. Despite the controversy, the exposure launched their music career. They later signed with DJ Tira’s Afrotainment label and have since released two successful albums. Their debut album, The Gift of Love (2020), marked their official entry into the music industry, and their follow-up, Words of Hope (2022), debuted at number 3 in South Africa.

Early Life

Virginia and Viggy Qwabe were born in 1997 and come from Stanger, Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. They were raised in a spiritual household led by their father, Lawrence Qwabe, who is the founder of the Pure Freedom Christ church. Their strong musical foundation was likely influenced by their upbringing in this religious environment.

Career

Singing has been part of the Qwabe Twins’ lives from an early age. They reportedly began composing and performing songs as children, often singing in church. In 2018, they considered entering the 14th season of Idols South Africa but lacked the confidence to face a large audience. A year later, they competed in season 15, where Virginia performed “Khona” by Mafikizolo featuring Uhuru during the Top 5 round before being eliminated. Viggy withdrew from the competition shortly after, citing concerns over bullying and fairness.

Following their departure from the show, the twins signed with Afrotainment Records and released their breakout single “Hamba” featuring DJ Tira on November 29, 2019. The track gained massive popularity, with its music video reaching 5 million views on YouTube and winning an award at the 2021 Afrotaiment Awards. That same year, they were nominated for Newest Find at the 2020 KZN Entertainment Awards.

They continued their musical momentum with the release of “Show Me” featuring Jaziel Brothers in September 2020, followed by their debut album The Gift of Love on September 25, 2020. At the 15th South African Traditional Music Awards, the duo won Female Artist/Group of the Year and Best Traditional Collaboration Song.

In October 2021, they dropped “Ziyakhala” featuring Kabza De Small. Their second studio album, Words of Hope, arrived on November 17, 2021, reaching number 3 on the iTunes Top Albums chart. Most recently, they released the EP Iqiniso on October 27, 2023.

Discography

Albums 

2020 – The Gift of Love

Singles and EPs

2019 – Umama (Pitipiti)

2020 – AmaGifts

2021 – Ziyakhala

2022 – Impilo

2022 – Alusafani

2022 – Words of Hope

2023 – Iqiniso

2024 – Umalambana

2024 – Nhliziyo Yami

2025 – Nguye