Latest news with #AkhonamathembaZwane
News24
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
‘My dreams are coming true' - Sweet Guluva on making music and living large
Oupa Bopape Seven months ago, this was all just a dream for Akhonamathemba Zwane. But he chased his ambitious goals anyway. Now, Sweet Guluva is thriving. After winning the R2 million cash prize from Big Brother Mzansi, Sweet Guluva told Drum that he'd be seizing every opportunity that the entertainment industry has to offer him, with his eyes fixated on acting. And that's exactly what he's done. At just 23 years old, he now travels the country performing his song, "Sweet Guluva," with DJ Zinhle, which is titled after him. Read more | 'I'm so proud of him' – Sweet Guluva's mom bursts into tears of joy His biggest performance yet was recently at the Durban July Afrotainment marquee, which he attended alongside his girlfriend, Ashley Ogle, whom he met in the Big Brother house. 'It's beautiful to see that we agreed to give our love a chance,' he says proudly. Catching up with Drum after a photoshoot linked to a big announcement he'll be making on 18 August, he excitedly says, 'What's coming next is what I've always wanted to do from the very beginning of my journey. It makes me happy to be finally making music, and what's coming up'. Hailing from the same province, DJ Zinhle and Sweet Guluva found themselves to have a lot in common, including knowing Sweet Guluva's mother, Bongiwe Zwane, whom DJ Zinhle admitted to having attended the same school with on social media. It wasn't long after this that the two recorded their song together with Nokwazi and Ndloh, which dropped on June 6. Read more | Sweet Guluva on pursuing acting - 'My intention was to break into the industry' 'DJ Zinhle already had an idea of how to bring this song to life, so by the time I got to the studio, there was already a beat ready for me. She wanted it to be my introduction to music because she had already heard of my wish to get into music.' 'None of this scares me, I'm just happy that my dreams are coming true.' He adds that seeing it all come together like a well-put puzzle has kept him focused, despite the money and fame. Through it all, he still seeks counsel from his mother on how to stay grounded and move in the industry. 'For as long as God has given me the chance to make music, I will make music with whoever comes with a beat I like and we can collaborate well on.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akhonamathemba Zwane (@sweet_guluva) Contrary to popular belief, as a staunch Zulu speaker, he rejects the idea of hopping onto maskandi and chuckles as he shares with Drum that his preferences are amapiano, afro-tech, and house. Sweet Guluva has since abandoned his studies at the Cape Peninsula of Technology (CPUT), where he was doing his third year and has permanently moved to Johannesburg in pursuit of the gold in the city.
News24
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Sweet Guluva on success, humility and privacy - ‘You need your family just to be also grounded'
He might be R2 million richer, but he'll never forget his humble roots. Akhonamathemba Zwane, affectionately known as Sweet Guluva to his beloved fanbase across the country, is still riding the high of his Big Brother Mzansi season five win. Through it all, Sweet Guluva has never lost his faith and attributes his humility to his family and to God. 'I'm also accepting the fact that I'm a Godly person,' he tells TRUELOVE. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akhonamathemba Zwane (@sweet_guluva) While Sweet Guluva is of the first of his family to experience the spotlight and highs and lows that come with fame, he reveals that they are the people who know him best and can attest to life-changing experiences. He explains, 'In life, they've been there before, so most of the situations they know better than I do. So maybe, with [handling money], they know vele... 'This is how you handle this, this is how you stay humble, this is what you do'. So, you need your family just to be also grounded and also just reconnect.' From MCing high-profile events like the Durban Music Festival and returning to his roots in the small KzwaZulu-Natal town of Nquthu engaging, entertaining and inspiring thousands of school kids with All Gold's youth empowerment school tour to testing his diski skills with the Broscape Championship with Dove Men, the 23-year-old's star is still shining bright. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akhonamathemba Zwane (@sweet_guluva) Since being a part of major brands and inspiring campaigns, some might believe Sweet Guluva may feel a sense of responsibility especially to the youth in his hometown. However, he explains, 'I don't see it as a responsibility. People follow what they feel is genuine and real. That's what truly connects.' READ MORE | From trumpeting These Streets to Horns in the Sun: Mi Casa's Mo-T's everlasting hits Sweet Guluva's newfound fame hasn't come without it's hardships and devastating losses that life unexpectedly throws our way. Towards the beginning of May 2025, the young star issued a statement through his team confirming the loss of his sister, Lwazi Zwane. Sweet Guluva describes the relationship he had with his sister to us as 'very tight', but he is also adamant about maintaining his privacy through such life events as well as with his relationship with fellow housemate Ashley Ogle, which he says is also 'very tight now.' While Sweet Guluva is cagey about any details around his love life and upcoming projects, he tells us to keep our eyes on his social media. 'All will be shared on social media if there's anything, but for now we're still trying,' he says.
