She was born into fame. Both parents Arthur Mafokate and Queen Iyaya Sesoko got into show business at a young age.
When their children were born, it was evident that they would follow their parents’ path.
The eldest of her siblings, AJ Mafokate is a DJ, and now Owami Mafokate (19) is also a DJ, and a Tik Tok star has proven that success can run in a family.
After years of not being sure whether be study law and be an advocate or a pilot or an accountant, Owami decided to give in to her destiny.
“I tried to fight the entertainment bug. But it is in my blood,” Owami says. “I was born into it and it's all I know,” she adds.
From a young age she watched stars come and go in the hands of her dad's management, and he would warn her that if she wanted to be a success she needed to be disciplined.
“My dad taught me to love what I do, to be passionate, persistence, to work hard, and never give up,” Awami says. And that is why it has taken her so long to release music.
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“I needed to be sure of what I am doing,” she says. “I wanted to make good, quality, relevant music.”
On her birthday, 20 September 2021, Owami will be releasing her seven-track debut album titled Ready. “It means exactly that, ready. I am ready for people to see my talent and hard work, that I am not just capitalising on my father’s legacy but I can stand on my own,” she says.
“I want to surpass what my dad has accomplished. He set the foundation and it is time for me to take it to the next level and become an international star.”
Owami has been nominated for the best Amapiano female DJ at the Amapiano Awards.
“I love DJing, it’s how I started my music career. But I am versatile, I can dance and act.”
Being born into music, she understands the ups and downs of the entertainment industry. “I am ready and pray to stay humble and not make the same mistake I have seen artists make while I was growing up.”
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Also big on Tik Tok, Owami has used the platform to promote her craft and make a lucrative income.
“I started doing videos on Tik Tok for fun. It's still a lot of fun, the difference is now I get paid to do campaigns and challenges,” she says.
Tik Tok has been another way that she's promoting her DJing and love for dance and acting. “I can do my own skits, my dance and earn,” she says. “I do videos when I'm at gigs or in my free time at home.”
The first year Entrepreneurship BCom student says balancing school and work is not easy but she is willing to put in the work. “It's all part of building my dream and my empire. I plan to work on events and, school and also balance my dream as an entertainer. All it takes is discipline,” Owami says.
