The Diamond Voice aims to change the music industry

Mangalani Mudau Mashau, who is popularly known as The Diamond Voice, is the new pioneer-in-the-making in terms of artist promotions in Vhembe District and he promises to ensure that his artists get the value and recognition they deserve.

“It dawned on me that many artists are talented but lack the resources to market themselves, so that they get to be heard and noticed by the wider world,” he said. “So, I decided to set up an artist management company, so that I help promote them.”

A resident of Ha Mashau Bodwe and Ha Mandiwana, The Diamond Voice is not new to the entertainment industry. He was a radio presenter at Musina FM, Muslim Community Radio and Nzhelele FM for some years.

“As a radio man, I realised that many artists bring their music for airplay on the radio and it ends there, where their songs only get airplay,” he said. “Music needs to put food on the table. Both artist and manager or promoter need to work hand in glove to realise this dream.”

This former officer in the South African National Defence Force and casual supervisor at Mike's Kitchen in Polokwane said that he had to give himself enough time and listen to the artist’s music first, and then make a marketing and promotional decision, based on that.

“I manage artists across genres,” he said. “I discovered this talent this year because I was always ensuring that artists get to send their music to radio stations. With that experience, I thought that I could do this managing thing to put Venda on the map.”

He has been inspired by the work of Rita Dee and Tshepo Manyisa because they had not given up even when times were hard in the industry. “What I like about Manyisa and Rita Dee is that they make things happen,” he said. “I also have mentors, who are Mr Ndwakhulu Oscar Makhado, Mrs Johannah Mulaudzi, Khathutshelo Meshack Ramugondo and Miss Enica Kadyamatimba.”

He said: “I'm also sending a plea to the youth to focus on education and refrain from criminal activities; whether we like it or not, education is the key to open all doors.”

“I'm always motivating young people to be serious about school,” he said. “I thank Ronny Ramabulana and Michael John Mhlanga for giving me courage about everything that I'm doing.”

 The Diamond Voice is available on 079 015 6139 or [email protected].

Entertainment - Date: 28 May 2020

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]