BlaQ Diamond, is a popular Afro pop duo made up of Ndumiso Mdletshe and Sphelele Dunywa, both hailing from Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Their musical journey started in 2010 when they met on a school trip and bonded over their shared love for music, leading to an unforgettable jam session on the bus.
After signing with Ambitiouz Entertainment, they launched their debut album, Inqola, in 2017, which quickly soared to the top of the iTunes charts.
FACTS ABOUT BLAQ DIAMOND
- FULL NAME:Ndumiso Mdletshe
Sphelele Dunywa - DATE OF BIRTH:May 7, 1993
- PLACE OF BIRTH:Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
- NATIONALITY:South Africans
- OCCUPATIONs :Singers, Songwriters, Rappers
- LABELs:Ambitiouz Entertainment (Former)Umuthi Records (Current
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
During a school trip in 2010, a spontaneous rap session on the bus brought them together, igniting a friendship that revealed their mutual love for music.
As they began performing at school events and gatherings, their talent quickly gained recognition in their community, establishing them as local stars.
CAREER
Eager to explore more opportunities in the music industry, the duo made the daring choice to move to Johannesburg.
Although they faced initial difficulties in a new city without any connections, they remained determined, taking on regular jobs to support themselves while pursuing their musical dreams.
In early 2017, Blaq Diamond signed with Ambitiouz Entertainment and started working on their debut album. Their singles “Sthandwa” and “Emzini kaBaba” were released in June 2019, the latter accompanied by a music video.
Their album “Inqola” was released in the winter of 2017 to widespread acclaim, fusing Afro-soul with Maskandi and umBhaqanga influences to create a fresh and youthful sound.
The duo received two nominations at the 24th South African Music Awards and made their live performance debut in Pietermaritzburg in 2018 at a local fashion show.
On May 2, 2019, Blaq Diamond released their single “Memeza,” featuring Sjava, which climbed to number 9 on the Radio Airplay Charts.
Their next single, “Ibhanoyi,” was released on August 2 and quickly climbed to the top of the iTunes charts. They received the Record of the Year award for “Ibhanoyi” at the South African Music Awards.
On January 23, 2020, they launched their third single, “Love Letter,” which reached number 3 on iTunes and number 11 on the Radio Airplay Charts.
Their second album, Umuthi, which includes collaborations with Sjava, Ci Ci, Thee Legacy, and Igcokama Elisha, debuted at number one on the iTunes Albums Charts on January 31, 2020.
In June 2020, Blaq Diamond established Umuthi Records in partnership with Ambitiouz Entertainment.
They collaborated on tracks with DJ Miss Pru before releasing their hit single “Summer YoMuthi” in November 2020, which topped the Channel O Top 30 music chart.
On June 4, they released the single “Messiah” featuring Dumi Mkokstad, which quickly garnered 3 million views on YouTube.
Their song “Summer YoMuthi” received acclaim at the 6th All Africa Music Awards, earning eight nominations, including Song of the Year in Africa.
On October 29, they released “Italy.” By December 2021, the duo had parted ways with Ambitiouz Entertainment.
Fast forward to early September 2022, they teased a new single titled “Qoma,” featuring Big Zulu and Siya Ntuli, on Instagram.
Their album “Zulu Romance,” an enchanting blend of afro-pop infused with maskandi and isichathamiya elements, was released on February 29, 2024, featuring the singles “Qoma” and “Mangibona Wena.”
PERSONAL LIFE
Even as their popularity and success continue to grow, the duo chooses to keep information about their personal relationships, families, and everyday lives away from public scrutiny.