No funding, no backing – Nomzamo producers still making hits

In a small room in Nomzamo, two young men are building the sound of the township.

No fancy label. No government grant. Just speakers, a PC, and pure hustle.

Refilwe Makayi, known as DJ Shai, has been grinding for over 10 years.

“I dropped an album in 2012 and it went viral,” he says. “But getting recognition? That’s the hard part.”

DJ Shai says Nomzamo is full of talent but empty of support.

“Music producers in the disadvantaged area of Nomzamo make the sound from start. There is no support for local musicians.”

He met fellow producer Yongama Malungazi in 2015.

“We shared our music projects and we never had any problems,” DJ Shai says.

“I have collaborated with local musicians. We worked with Stay Fresh crew.”

Malungazi didn’t start as a producer.

“What made me love music is that we had a group in Unifound but I could not sing or rap,” he says. “I was their producer.”

He taught himself.

Now he and DJ Shai work with “a lot of music producers” in Nomzamo.

“We share the studio in Nomzamo,” Malungazi says.

Both producers say the music industry is tough for kasi artists.

“In the industry there are people who don’t support us,” DJ Shai says.

She calls out the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.

“Even the department does not support local artists. It’s focused on well known artists.”

That means Nomzamo talent must rely on local media and word of mouth.

“We are getting support in promoting our music through local media,” DJ Shai says.

“But we need national airplay. We need funding.”

Despite the challenges, the Nomzamo crew keeps working.

They record, mix, master, and market tracks for local artists who can’t afford Joburg studios.

“We had an album go viral in 2012 with no help,” DJ Shai says. “Imagine what we could do with real support.”

Malungazi agrees.

“We learnt a lot about music production on our own. Now we want the department to come see what’s happening in the townships.”