She has officially stepped out on her own in the world of entertainment.
Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona – better known by her stage name Makhadzi – has had quite the jam-packed come up as a musician that has set her in stone as one of the most talked about artists in the country.
From showing off her talents to her grandmother and friends through cultural dancing growing up to appearing on a Times Square billboaord in New York City and flying over a doting crowd at the annual Phalaphala Royal Heritage Festival on 16 September 2023, Makhadzi has made her mark.
“The best performance that I’ve done this year – of course, I was doing so much because I always give my best when it comes to performances – but Royal Heritage Festival it was the best for me because they gave me enough time to play a lot of songs,” Makhadzi tells TRUELOVE.
“I think I performed one hour, then they gave me a chance to also perform my new songs and people were so happy to hear the new songs for the first time and, how I entered the stage, it was just amazing. It was just a movie.”
The 27-year-old April/May 2022 TRUELOVE cover star’s latest accomplishment comes with her album Mbofholowo, her first project to come out of Makhadzi Entertainment after parting ways with her former record label Open Mic Productions.
In between her very busy schedule, Makhadzi shares the inspiration behind the album and beginning a new solo chapter.
“Actually, earlier this year I was choosing my album. I wanted to call my album Auto Renewal album, then I realised that it’s like maybe I’m holding grudges after what happened with my previous recording label. So, I decided to change the name to call it Mbofholowo.
“Mbofholowo means freedom so, as my first album from my record label, I was trying to send the message that now at least I’m free, I can do everything on my own.”
The 20-track album, released on Friday, 22 September 2023, with more than one million streams in its first two days, provides a whirlwind fusion of amapiano, house, R&B and more that effortlessly complements the Limpopo-born artist’s magnetic energy.
With something for everyone to enjoy, Makhadzi explains, “I’m taking them back to where Makhadzi started her music career. I have those sound mixtures – I have piano, I also collaborated with their favourite artists, so I’m just catering everyone on the album.
“If you love piano, you’re going to get it. if you want to sweat, you’re going to sweat but now of course the aim is to sweat because it’s sweating time! So, the album is just a hit from track number one until track number last.”
Makhadzi has been leveling up in her career through her music as well as upgraded hair and makeup looks, courtesy of Vintage Sky Studio, and fashion - resulting in an all-encompassed superstar glow-up.
READ MORE | Get to know B Mashilo, the fashion designer behind Makhadzi and other stars' looks
Makhadzi’s career has proudly reflected her Venda heritage and she reveals some of her favourite parts of her culture.
“Honestly, speaking about us Vendas, I just like how we are raised because we’ve been taught to respect any human being, not just elders - I just love that about my culture. And also, the food that we eat, I’m a traditional person so I enjoy my traditional meals all the time. I always cook … mopani worms, morogo, delele.”
Rising up from being at the centre of label scandals and controversial opinions, Makhadzi shares a few words of inspiration for those struggling to overcome their difficulties and reach for their dreams.
“I’m where I am today because I’m strong and, also, I believe too much in myself because I believe that everything starts with you. If you believe in yourself, there is no way you can listen to only negative things. You must just push, you must just tell people to believe in you. It must start with you. Whatever you touch, people they will believe in it because you believe in everything that you’ll be doing.
“So, everything is possible as long as you love what you’re doing, you don’t doubt yourself. Self-confidence is always the best because of course no one can be like you.”
@truelovemagazine Makhadzi wishes us a happy birthday ?? #Celebrating50years #TLAllAWomanNeeds #makhadzi #trulovemagazine ? original sound - TRUELOVE
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With whispers of a biographical documentary in the works, Makhadzi shares what her fans can expect from her.
“The documentary is all about my life. Like I said in my song my life is a movie. I just feel like they need to know more about Makhadzi and I’m not giving them the whole of Makhadzi. The only thing that they know about Makhadzi is only my songs and my performances. I always trend because of my performances all the time but I feel like maybe I must take them through the journey of how that thing happened.
“What is done before the final project that they see on social media. So, its all about my life, my career of course. Also the other part of my personal life. I gave it [my] all because I feel really like my people, as long as they love me, they have to know the real Makhadzi, who is Makhadzi and where am I coming from and what do I do on a daily basis and the challenges. And some of the answers of the things that have been trending, maybe which I’ve never answered them.”
