Dlala Thukzin reflects the international rise of Amapiano with BET nomination
DJ and producer Dlala Thukzin has been nominated for a BET award. Picture: dlalathukzin/Instagram
Similar to hip hop, when it came on the scene in the mid-1970s, Amapiano and Gqom music allowed black youth to carve out careers from their passions.
Producer and DJ Dlala Thukzin is one of those young artists who epitomise this.
On Thursday, the BET Awards announced nominees for next month's awards. Among them was the iPlan hit-maker, who is nominated in the Best New International Act category.
Three South Africans, including Thukzin, are among the 11 nominees in that category. Rapper Maglera Doe Boy and Amapiano duo TxC are the other South Africans nominated in the category.
The BET Awards will take place on 9 June at Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
ALSO READ: 'Amapiano music feels like heaven sometimes' —West African artists on SA genre
Dlala Thukzin's rise
Real name Thuthuka Zindlovu, Thukzin hails from Lamontville in the south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
Thukzin has built a reputation as one of the most appreciated Amapiano and Gqom producers in the last decade.
On Sunday, Thukzin won the Best Producer award at the Urban Music Awards (UMAs).
Earlier in the year, he was a multiple nominee at the Trace Awards in Zanzibar. Even though he walked away empty–handed, his talents were recognised.
He announced his arrival in the industry in 2016 by producing Babes Wodumo's hit, Umngan'wami. Since then, he has produced for other artists and released music under his name.
The song was memorable to throngs of fans, and his working relations with Babes left an impression on the performer who gave Thukzin his flowers.
'Most of all into engithanda kuwena awukaze wayilahla respect for me and even when abantu sebengshiyile but wena Thukzin uhlezi unami,' wrote Babes in a post over a year ago.
In it, she expressed her appreciation for Thukzin's continued respect for her even when other people have deserted her.
She said her husband the, late Kwaito star Mampintsha, is proud of Thukizn wherever he is.
'I'm also sure nala uShimora la ekhona he is proud of how much you have achieved. Ziningi izinto and sawshaya amaHit la eWest Ink,' said Babes.
Earlier this year, when floods ravaged his hometown of Lamontville and surrounding areas, Thukzin lent a helping hand.
'We are living in hard times. To see people from my community experience such a tragedy is painful. In due course, we'll see how we can assist them,' said Thukzin, speaking to TimesLive at the time.
ALSO READ: Adam Howard: SA's adopted son who fell in love with the music and never looked back
BET Awards
The BET nominees were selected by the BET Voting Academy, an esteemed group of entertainment professionals and influencers in the fields of music, media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, and creative arts.
Kendrick Lamar holds the top spot with ten nominations this year. They include Album of the Year for GNX and Video of the Year for Not Like Us.
While Thukzin and Maglera are nominated in the Best New International Act category, Tyla and Uncle Waffles received nods in the Best International Act category, with the latter representing Eswatini.
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