Babes Wodumo

Babes Wodumo, born Bongekile Mildred Simelane in 1994 in Lamontville, Durban, is a defining figure of the South African gqom movement. Although often associated with the rise of amapiano because of the overlap in audiences and dance culture, Babes Wodumo built her reputation as the self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Gqom’, helping take Durban's hard-hitting electronic sound from township dance floors to international audiences.

She first attracted attention in 2014 before achieving nationwide fame with the release of Wololo in 2016. Featuring Mampintsha and produced by Distruction Boyz, the infectious single became a cultural phenomenon, dominating radio playlists, clubs and dance challenges across South Africa. The song remains her signature hit and introduced millions of listeners to the gqom genre. Other popular tracks include Umngan’wami, Mercedes, Ka Dazz, eLamont and Thobeka.

Her debut album, Gqom Queen Vol. 1, established her as one of the country's biggest new stars and earned widespread acclaim. Babes Wodumo went on to receive nominations at the BET Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards and South African Music Awards, while winning Best Dance Female Artist at the 2017 Dance Music Awards and Best Female Artist at the South African Gqom Awards. Her international profile grew further when she appeared on Black Panther: The Album, produced by Kendrick Lamar, on the track Redemption.

Away from the stage, Babes Wodumo's personal life frequently made headlines, including her relationship and later marriage to fellow musician Mampintsha, with whom she had a son. Following Mampintsha's death in 2022, she stepped back from the spotlight before returning to music. Today, she remains one of the most recognisable names in South African dance music, celebrated for helping establish gqom as a genre with both national and international appeal.