Mr Thela

Mr Thela, born Simphiwe Sihawu in Gugulethu and raised in Samora Machel, Philippi, is a South African DJ and producer whose work has shaped the evolution of contemporary gqom. He began experimenting with music as a teenager and launched his professional career in 2016. His early rise came through the duo Mshayi and Mr Thela, whose debut album Make Cape Town Great Again achieved platinum status and positioned them as central figures in the Cape Town dance scene. Their single “iParty” gained national attention after being featured in the Netflix series JIVA!.

After the duo disbanded, Mr Thela continued his career as a solo artist and established his own label Tronics Land in 2022. He released his solo debut Tronics Land Series 1 the same year and followed it with Tronics Land Series 2 in 2023. Both projects expanded his reach across streaming platforms, with the second album debuting in the top five locally. He has built a recognisable sound rooted in gqom and sgubhu, marked by hypnotic rhythms and melodic influences that many listeners associate with the emerging Cape Town gqom or church groove style.

In 2024 he signed with Universal Music Group, a milestone that introduced his work to wider international audiences. His upcoming album Langa continues his focus on storytelling grounded in township culture and his dedication to gqom as a genre that speaks to collective memory, dance culture and lived experience.

Mr Thela is regarded as one of the leading voices in modern gqom. His commitment to the genre and his ability to innovate within its structure have positioned him as an artist whose work carries both cultural resonance and significant influence in South Africa’s electronic music landscape.