Kwaito star Mandoza is the flag bearer for a genre born in the hustle and bustle of South African township life. The Nkalakatha star was in England over the weekend for a kwaito feast in London alongside the reunited TKZee trio of Kabelo, Magesh and Zwai. He tells New Zimbabwe.com The Truth About: Mandoza

Children: Three boys Tokollo, Thapelo and Tumelo (‘All Sotho names but I just love the pronunciations and know the meaning too’)

When I tell people they don’t believe, but I was very quiet at school. I just kept to myself.

I never thought of myself being like this, what I am today. But I always thought of myself as an entertainer, although I didn’t know how I was going to do it.

You were a member of kwaito group Chiskop, before going solo. How did you guys get together?

We were doing gymnastics together – myself, S’bu, Siphiwe (aka General) and Sizwe. It was General’s idea that we form a group, he was behind everything. I guess you can say if General had not initiated the whole thing, there would be no Mandoza. It’s sad that two of our friends – Sizwe and S’bu – dies but I still perform with General wherever I go, we are still fighting.

You have nine albums to your name now, starting way back in 1999 with 9115 Zola South. A year later, you dropped Nkalakatha and all your subsequent albums have followed that theme of invincibility, being a top contender. What’s the idea behind that?

You are right, Nkalakatha, Godoba, Tornado, S'gelekeqe, Phunyuka Bamphethe, Ngalabesi, Champion, Ingwenya all generally mean the same thing – I’m on top of my game. The idea is simple, you can’t discourage yourself, you should always think of yourself as the best in what you do. That’s what I am trying to do, the next album should be better than the last and I set myself that challenge in the title of my albums.

I am inspired by what I have achieved, I wake up every morning thinking how grateful I am and seeking to keep ahead of the game. That’s what inspires me.

I’m afraid of speed. You will be aware I was involved in a car accident last year in which two people died, and I learnt lessons from that. I am not afraid of dying, but I have come to appreciate life. I’m trying to be a better person everyday. I have done so many mistakes in life and I have learnt from them. I’m now very careful in everything I do.

I am a Capricorn, you know with Capricorns you can’t see them coming. We are very quiet, you can’t read our minds. Very unpredictable.

Which song holds special memories for you and tell us what those memories are?

Nkalakatha, without a doubt. It was my first break, the biggest exposure you have ever seen. I woke up famous, and the song had cross-over appeal in both the black and white market. It was very nice.

I have been privileged to get personal advice from people like Mdu Masilela, Oskido and P Diddy who was amazing when I met him in Cape Town. I am a magnet for bad publicity, and a running theme of their advise was that there is nothing like bad publicity, it’s all gonna be good in the end.

Being me! No, I’m joking. I don’t regret anything in life, I believe that everything happens for a reason.

That I am a Nigerian! Our Nigerian brodos in South Africa are convinced I’m one of them.

You grew up in Zola, Soweto, but left for the suburbs when you got famous. Didn’t you stop and think: ‘My music is ghetto, so I should stay in the ghetto’?

I had every plan to stay in Zola, but when you become famous your life changes, whether you like it or not. Day and night people were coming to our house for all sorts of reasons. Some wanted me to give them cash, others just wanted to chill … a lot happened and I got sick of it. Some were doing things to provoke me in so many ways, so it was best that I move. But I still go back and visit friends, and chill. I’m still itsotsi yaseZola!

It’s summer in South Africa, and you have arrived in the UK to find us in the middle of winter. How are you dealing with the weather?

I love the weather! It’s baby-making weather … which is great for everyone, is it not?

The World Cup draw was conducted in Cape Town on Friday night, but there are still some who say South Africa is too dangerous. Is that a fair statement?

It’s nonsense. People are exaggerating and pretending that only South Africa has crime. Crime happens everywhere, including here in England – people get stabbed, shot and worse. Newspapers must not scare people, South Africa is safe and we are proud to host the World Cup.

MANDOZA: INDODA