South African singer Mawhoo, whose real name is Thandeka Ngema, has just reached a big milestone in her music career. She’s been named Spotify’s EQUAL Africa Ambassador for July 2025, a huge honour that celebrates her impact as a female artist in the Amapiano music scene.
According to The Citizen, Spotify’s EQUAL Africa programme is part of a global project that supports and shines a light on talented women in the music industry. It helps give them the right tools and opportunities to grow and be seen. Being chosen as the EQUAL Africa Ambassador shows how far Mawhoo has come and how much her music is being noticed around the world.
Mawhoo began her music journey in 2018 with her first single, Umshado. She says the response to that track gave her the confidence she needed to keep going.
“The positive feedback from people and the reception to the track made me realise that I can do this thing. But I’ve always been passionate about music from a young age,” she said.
But it hasn’t been an easy road. Mawhoo says that, as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she often felt like her creativity was being controlled by others.
“There was a time when people used to make me do music and a sound that didn’t resonate with me; I couldn’t be creative fully and be expressive, so people used to assume I couldn’t sing or that I wasn’t talented,” she explained.
Even worse, she experienced bullying and judgment that made her feel stressed and misunderstood. But instead of quitting, she pushed through.
“I was often bullied, and that made me stressed, but instead of leaving music, I carried on and didn’t give up. I used that to push myself.”
Today, Mawhoo is one of the most respected voices in Amapiano. She says the key to her success has been staying true to herself.
“I’ve empowered myself, and I make decisions that feel right to me. I don’t do things just to please others. I don’t do anything that’s going to make me feel uncomfortable. If a space doesn’t serve me, I walk away.”
She also spoke about the challenges women face in the music industry, especially when it comes to unwanted advances from men who mix personal and professional boundaries.
“As a woman, even beyond the music industry, there are challenges that we face. We are subjected to being wanted and approached by men promising us love or looking for intimacy, even in professional settings,” she said.
Mawhoo had strong advice for other women: “As women, learn to stand your ground and say no. Teach people to respect you and your decisions. Don’t do things because you want to please others and want to be favoured — don’t sell your soul.”
