Buffalo Souljah

Buffalo Souljah (Thabani Ndlovu) is a South Africa-based Zimbabwean reggae recording artist and songwriter. He obtained a total of 10 wins at the Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, Soundcity Music Awards, and Zimdancehall Awards. He owns the record label U.N.A (United Nations of Africa Music Group).[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Buffalo Souljah
Background information
Birth nameThabani Ndlovu
Born (1983-09-16) 16 September 1983
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
OriginMufakose/Harare/Zimbabwe
Genres
Afrofusion
Occupation(s)
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • musician
InstrumentsVocals, sampler, percussion
Years active2000–present
LabelsUnited Nations of Africa Music Group
Associated acts

Early life background

Born in 1980 in Bulawayo, Thabani, Ndhlovu is the third born in a family of four. He then moved to Harare where he was raised in the high-density suburb of Mufakose. He attended Mufakose High School and then moved to South Africa soon after graduating.

Career background

Buffalo Souljah's career began at the age of eight when he composed his first song: "Zuva Randisinga Kanganwe" (The day I will never forget). The song was inspired by a hilarious childhood incident in which he and his brother were chased by some baboons after having taunted and provoked them. Buffalo credits his talent and thirst for music to his father who was also a musician. His father was a jazz artist and saxophonist who worked with Thomas Mapfumo in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[8]

Buffalo Souljah also recorded an Afro-jazz album called Indolvu Yangena on VaNyoni Beats Records, working closely with Mzilikazi Wa Afrika.[9]

Early collaborations

In 1996, Buffalo Souljah and his friends David Zulu, aka Deva Soul, and Stewart Chamirai, aka Jon Doe, formed his first group "Intelligent Racuss Cruuks" formally known as ULD, aka Prettybway. The group released three afro hip-hop albums, a mix of traditional music called jiti and hip-hop which involved a hip-hop drum, kick, and bass sequence fused with the Zimbabwean traditional instrument Mbira.

When Buffalo moved to South Africa in 1999, he entered the music industry and worked with several South African artists featuring on their albums. In 2002, he had his first break working with a Ghanaian artist Kweku aka Instinct. He was later involved with a group called Street Disciples and they dropped an album called The Chosen Ones under the label (Da Apostles).

Record deal: United Nations of Africa (U.N.A)

After some years in the hustle, Buffalo Souljah finally got his big break and signed with HOTWAX records, a record album owned by veteran DJ Waxxy. He now owns and heads a record label called U.N.A (United Nations of Africa), and signed his first artist, Vanessa Sibanda, formerly known as Queen Vee, in 2010.[10] Queen Vee is a former pageant queen, crowned Miss Zimbabwe in 2008. After relinquishing the crown as Miss Zimbabwe in 2009, Queen Vee relocated to South Africa and met Big Buff, who eventually signed her to his label United Nations of Africa. Since 2010, Queen Vee has worked with celebrated musicians such as A L-Tido, Ziyon from Liquid Deep and AB Crazy among others.

Endorsements

One Campaign[11]

Coke Studios[12]

One Man Band[13]

Performances
  • Harare International Festival of the Arts Zimbabwe
  • Lake of Stars
  • Nigeria Calaba Festival
  • Tanzania Hip-Hop Mag Festival
  • City of Joburg New Year's Eve
  • Washington DC African Summit Concert
  • Lake of Malawi
  • Malaysia African Diaspora Festival

Notable singles

In 2008, Buffalo Souljah released a dancehall single "Bubble Ya Bums" for his debut album. The single became a hit, the video was on high rotation on Channel O and MTV Base and got him winning two Channel O Spirit Of Africa Awards in the categories "Best Newcomer" and "Best Dancehall/Ragga" respectively.[14][15]

Discography
SongAlbumYear
ZiyawaThe Chosen One2014
Chibhambi ChabhadharaThe Chosen One2014
Da Chosen OneThe Chosen One2014
BasawineThe Chosen One2014
Luv SongThe Movement2009
My Type O GuyThe Movement2009
Too Many O MeThe Movement2009
Ghetto AnthemThe Movement2009
Belong (with Nasty C)Coke Studios Collab2016[16]
Bubble YaSingle release2008
My LadySingle release2016
KilamanjaroSingle release2016
Dj Waxxy: YiniSingle release2017
Samzee Deenamba: From the streets2016Featuring Buffalo Souljah and Eindo
Blacklez: SuccessSingle release2015
Queen Vee: ThirstySingle release2015
Born to be wildSingle releaseFeaturing Nyla (Brick N Lace)

Awards and recognition

In 2013, Buffalo Souljah was appointed the Zimbabwean Youth Cultural Ambassador by Minister S. Kasukuwere[17]

Song/ProjectAwardYearPlatform
Bubble Your BumzBest Newcomer2008Channel O Africa Music Video Awards
Bubble Your BumzBest Ragga Dancehall Video2008Channel O Africa Music Video Awards
Buffalo Souljah/Taygrin/Gal level for My Type Of Girl (Zimbabwe/Malawi/Namibia)Best Duo or Group2009Channel O Africa Music Video Awards
JudgementBest Ragga Dancehall Video2009Channel O Africa Music Video Awards
Ezandlha PhezuluViewers Choice (Voting)2010Soundcity Music Awards
Styra Inonyengesa featuring Cabo SnoopBest Ragga Dancehall2011Channel O Africa Music Video Awards
Turn UpMost Gifted Ragga Dancehall2014Channel O Africa Music Video Awards
N/ABest Artist Diaspora2015Zimdancehall Awards
N/AInternational Achiever2016Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA)
N/ABest ReggaeNigeria AFRIMA
N/AAfrica Best Dance hallTexas U.S
N/ABest International Artist2020Zimdancehall Awards
N/ARest of Africa (nomination)2021South African Music Awards[18]

Buffalo Souljah is the only Zimbabwean artist to win multiple Channel O Music Video Awards (6 in total).[19][20][21]

References
  1. "Buffalo Souljah". Discogs. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  2. "Buffalo Souljah up in arms-Why Only Kirsty, Chidzonga? | The Herald". www.herald.co.zw. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  3. Nkhoma, Ron (14 February 2017). "Malawi: Buffalo Souljah Set for Valentine's Live Performance in Lilongwe". Nyasa Times (Leeds). Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  4. "An ode to heroes of Malawi | Malawi24 - All the latest Malawi news". Malawi24. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  5. Entertainment, TMG. "Crossing all borders: Nasty C and Buffalo Souljah bring heat to the Coke Studio". Times LIVE. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  6. Johnson, Ayodele. "New Music: Buffalo Souljah - My lady". Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  7. "Buffalo Souljah and Pah Chihera to represent Zimbabwe at US awards". 22 July 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  8. "Buffalo SoulJah". 3 July 2015.
  9. "Buffalo SoulJah". Music In Africa. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  10. Majaya, TR. "Making the case for @buffalosouljah1 as a Zimbabwean Music Icon". Kunakirwa. Kunakirwa Ltd. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  11. "African Stars to Join ONE Campaign in Washington DC for US-Africa Leaders Summit".
  12. https://www.coke.co.za/cokestudio/profile/profile_buffalo-souljah/
  13. "Buffalo Souljah brace for his first ever one man band concert - OyOsNews- all your Zim Celebrity News". oyos.news. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019.
  14. "Nasty C & Buffalo Souljah bring the heat on Coke Studio". ETV. ETV South Africa. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  15. Majaya, TR. "Making the case for @buffalosouljah1 as a Zimbabwean Music Icon". Kunakirwa. Kunakirwa Ltd. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  16. "Nasty C & Buffalo Souljah bring the heat on Coke Studio". ETV. ETV South Africa. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  17. "Buffalo Souljah honoured". MTV Base Africa. MTV. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  18. "South African Music Awards Announce 2021 Nominees". 24 May 2021.
  19. Majaya, TR. "Making the case for @buffalosouljah1 as a Zimbabwean Music Icon". Kunakirwa. Kunakirwa Ltd. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  20. Phiri, Brenda (1 December 2014). "Buffalo Souljah Up In Arms - Zim does not value my efforts - Why only Kirsty, Chidzonga?". Herald. Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Ltd. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  21. "Buffalo Souljah wins Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall Video". Channel O. MNet. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
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