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South Africa’s best loved Kwaito Star, Kabelo Mabalane - better known by his fans as ‘Bouga Luv’ – is back on track after a meteoric rise to fame as one of the three musicians in the national supergroup TKZee that formed in 1996 and disbanded in 2001. His solo career took off in 2000 with the release of his debut solo album - Everybody is Watching which sold 90 000 units, followed in 2002 with Rebel With A Cause on 100 000 units
In 2003, And the Beat Goes On sold 150 000 copies, followed in 2004 by the album Bouga Luv. In 2007, Kabelo announced the arrival of his fifth album, Exodus, which is a brilliantly textured kwaito-pop album and is currently available. In 2008 I’m a King was released.
Internationally, Kabelo’s UK tour in 2002 was a sellout success, and in 2004, he was the opening act for the South African Tours of 50 Cent and Ja Rule, and for the Black Eyed Peas concerts in 2005, a success he repeated for the 2006 South African tours of both Jay Z and Rihana.
Winner of numerous music awards, including best Male Vocalist at The Metro FM Awards in both 2002 and in 2003, and in 2003, Best Kwaito Album at both the Metro FM Awards and at the SAMA awards (repeated at the 2004 SAMAs), he has received continental recognition with Best Kwaito Music Video and Best Overall Video at the 2004:Channel O Music Awards and Best Male Artist for Southern African region in the 2004 KORAs. In addition to being acknowledged as one of the most successful hosts of the event, Kabelo won Best Kwaito Album at the 2007 SAMA Awards proving his ongoing popularity and sheer talent.
After recovering from drug abuse some four years ago, Kabelo has now found happiness in a healthy lifestyle and his path as a Christian - he has totally re-invented himself and has established his own company and brand “BOUGA LUV” as a socio-musical entrepreneur. To push the barrier of his new lifestyle, Kabelo rose above expectation by pushing his own mental and physical boundaries and successfully completing the “ ultimate human race” in 2006 – the Comrades Marathon – to raise R250 000 for the charities close to his heart. He completed the 2007 Comrades Marathon where he raised money for “Hands of Compassion” charity and also completed the the 2008 event, and achieved a personal best time. His dedication to the event and the sport is such that he has been appointed as the Patron of the inaugural 2008 Comrades Youth Run.
Kabelo has additionally appeared frequently on television either in promotion of the Comrades Marathon, or in his own right, including appearances on 3 Talk with Noeleen, SABC Morning Live, Top Billing and on the SABC News. Front page articles in the mainstream daily papers; endless articles in other magazines and newspapers and a number of radio interviews with stations throughout the country supplemented the publicity of his brand. He has been appointed as a Brand Ambassador for The South African Sports Confederation & Olympic Committee (SASCOC), has a product range and endorsement deal with Reebok, and is sponsored by AUDI of South Africa in addition to numerous smaller sponsorships and product partnerships.
“Kwaito uplifts people in this country. The more I am a success, the more influential I become and the more I can do for my country. I am assuming the leadership role that I have been running away from for umpteen years,” this truly outstanding performer, musician and businessman confides.
