ZAMO; OUR SHINING STAR!

With 15 years in the music scene, SWAMA Award winner Nomzamo Dlamini is illuminating the siSwati-singing music scene. The Kingdom of Eswatini-born singer, songwriter and actress is known by her stage name, Zamo.

The songstress came into prominence while singing afro soul and later gospel music after she had joined the most successful gospel outfit in South Africa, Joyous Celebration. Her love for music and arts started at the tender age of six but it was at the age of 15 that the music bug hit her hard when she recorded her first demo that enjoyed consistent airplay on Eswatini radio; and that was the beginning of things as we know them.

Zamo has graced a number of African stages, having performedside along side artists such as Salif Keita and Mbongeni Ngema to name but a few. Her other highlights include performing at the BushFire Festival, Eswatini International Trade Fair and many others.

She is currently representing the country quite well in South Africa, bagging coveted gigs and making all the right moves in the entertainment scene, which have seen her become a household name in the republic country. She recently wowed the crowd with a sterling performance and head-turning outfit during Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential Inauguration on May 25 in Pretoria.

Experience of performing at the inauguration:

I can honestly say that it was a mind-blowing experience being on that kind of platform representing emaSwati who are in both Eswatini and South Africa. Sharing that gigantic stage with the likes of Judith Sephuma, Mbuso Khoza, Kabomo, Reason, and Brenda Mtambo was quite the experience. I felt honoured, blessed and humbled at the same time also because God gives you a gift not for yourself but for the people. It will definitely go in the books of one of the many defining moments in my career.

What Africa Day means to her:
Africa Day is the one day where Africans celebrate each other, not that we don’t do so every day but also our generation is so privileged to be living in an era where being an African has become one of the coolest things in the world. Our music, our fashion trends are all celebrated across many nations. So the fact that the inauguration fell on Africa Day made it even more special.

About her homecoming show:
I’m actually very emotionally speaking about this one because it’s long overdue and I would rather wait and do it right than have people come and I deliver a half-cooked product. The date is still to be released but we are working on it.  This homecoming, means a lot to me because a lot of people have been giving me that ‘you have now focused on South Africa and forgot about us’ vibe.  Truth be told, building a solid foundation meant I had to make that sacrifice. EmaSwati made me and hence every door I step into, it is known that I’m proudly liSwati. So, it will give me an opportunity to redeem myself to my fans in Eswatini.

About her gym life:
To be honest, I have been defaulting a lot at the gym lately, but generally speaking, exercise is good for your body, your mind and many other things that surround you as a person. It’s a lifestyle. After a quick session in the morning, you could get a call to go into studio, you’re good to go because you have set the tone for the day and you feel like you can conquer it all.  The ‘Tinyemebti’ hitmaker is now a former member of a popular South African gospel group, Joyous Celebration. The experience allowed her to travel extensively, meeting and performing with other great musicians and faces, which included performing at TD Jake’s Megachurch, The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. After an eight-year hiatus from doing solo projects, a revived and fully-fledged ZAMO re-emerged onto the scene with a soulful hit single – ‘Tinyembeti’ which simply means ‘tears’. The song debuted on Metro FM top 40, peaking at number 12 and was on the charts for 15 weeks running.

ZAMO THE ACTOR
When ZAMO is not immersed in music, she is found in her other love, which is acting. Her acting cre- dentials include being cast in the lead role of a theatre maestro, Mbongeni Ngema’s musical No.43. She was also cast on Thapelo Mokoena’s township movie, Jackpot Mathambo, which was screened on Mzansi Magic television channel.  She also plays Thandeka, a driver, in an SABC 1 exciting drama titled, Ingozi. The show draws an audience of 3.8 million viewers and it boasts of seasoned and acclaimed performers like Xolile Tshabalala. She can also be heard doing voiceovers for SiSwati children cartoons, notably Mvubu the Hippo that airs on SABC1.

ZAMO THE MAKE-UP ARTIST
Zamo is truly a multi-talented creative as she also holds the title of a make-up artist who has worked behind the scenes on many South African music videos.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
AWARDS:
MTN SWAMAs 2018 (Swaziland Music Awards)
• Best Swati Soul Artist Winner

6TH ANNUAL AFRICAN AWARDS 2018
• Female Celebrity Hair Influencer Winner

NOMINATIONS:
SAAFMAs 2018 (South African Afro-Pop Music Awards)
• Best Afro Public Favourite Song

MTN SWAMAs 2018 (Swaziland Music Awards)
• Best Swati Based Artist Based in the Diaspora
• Best Swati Soul Artist
• Best Afro-Pop Artist
• Song of the Year – Tinyembeti
Nomzamo

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