Khanyi Mbau

Khanyisile Mbau, widely known as Khanyi Mbau, was born on October 16, 1985. She grew up in Soweto, Johannesburg and was primarily raised by her grandparents, who played a role in nurturing her passion and talent for the arts. 

Khanyi has been active in the media sector from a very young age. Khanyi got into the television industry when she was just eight. Her first TV role was on the popular kids' show Gallooby. After that, she presented a children’s fitness show called Sasko Sam ‘You’re A Star’ when she was 12 years old. In 2004, she got her official big break when she took over the role of Doobsie in the SABC 2 soap opera Muvhango. She has since gone on to feature in various other roles. Her biography, Khanyi Mbau: I Am Khanyi Mbau, was released in 2014, offering insights into her life and career. In 2013, she launched her own chat show, Katch It With Khanyi, on eKasi. Recently, she featured in the popular Netflix African reality show Young, Rich, & Famous.

Beyond her acting and presenting career, she also had a brief stint in the music industry. Her debut album, the self-titled Khanyi Mbau, was released in 2010. The song “igwinya” was popular at that time. She has only released two singles since then, the latest release being in 2020. 

Outside of music and film, she has developed a successful and influential brand and has tried her hand at various business ventures. In November 2018, Mbau launched her own gin brand called I Am Khanyi - Millennial Shimmer Gin. She is also the co-founder and creative director of Accessnation, a Dubai-based platform for affluent networking, creating luxury experiences, and hosting high-end events. 

Khanyi Mbau is undeniably a mogul and an icon in the African media space. She has achieved so many things throughout her career, and undoubtedly, there is more still to come.