Musician and reality star Loyiso Bala has shared his inspiring journey of reinvention after facing a tough period in his career. At the age of 36, Bala found himself at a crossroads, realising that he needed to make a change if he wanted to avoid a future of missed opportunities and financial struggle in the unpredictable entertainment industry.
Bala reflected on his career in music, saying, “At 36, I faced a harsh reality. If I didn’t make a change, I’d soon be in my 40s, struggling to book gigs, watching opportunities fade. I had spent years building a name in the industry, but deep down, I knew relying solely on music might not sustain me in the long run. I wasn’t willing to take that risk.”
He acknowledged the hard truth: despite his success, he had no degree or corporate experience to fall back on. “I could already see where things were headed. Despite a successful career, I would likely spend my days blaming the system for why musicians struggle financially… but my career would have quietly slipped away, leaving me with nothing but frustration and ‘back in my day’ stories.”
Rather than accepting this fate, Bala made the bold decision to pivot his career. He enrolled at Henley Business School, applying for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to have his music industry experience count towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Business (PGDip). The decision was daunting, and his first days were filled with uncertainty. “Getting accepted was even scarier. I sat in my first class, completely out of my depth, Googling terms like ‘HR’ and ‘balance sheets’ because I was too embarrassed to ask.”
But Bala didn’t give up. He graduated, and then took on what seemed impossible – an MBA. While studying, he volunteered as a presenter and producer at TBN Africa. Just before finishing his MBA, he was appointed Channel Director. His journey didn’t stop there—three years later, he joined SABC, where he now leads some of South Africa’s top radio stations.
Now 45, Bala looks back on his transformation with pride, saying, “At 36, I had no idea if I could rebuild my life. Now at 45, I stand in a career I once thought was out of reach, and it feels like I’ve been doing this for decades.”
Through his journey, Bala learned an important lesson: “It’s never too late to start over, to learn, to change paths, or to embrace new opportunities. Your past does not define your future. On the other side of fear is growth. Be bold. Step into the unknown. Do what feels uncomfortable. And when you’ve done all you can, trust that God will take care of the rest.”
