Mr Thela

Mr Thela is a South African DJ and producer from Cape Town, recognised as one of the key voices behind Cape Town Gqom, Gqom Gospel and Church Groove. Raised between Gugulethu and Samora Machel in Philippi, he began DJing in 2016 after growing up around church music and playing keyboard. He broke through in 2020 as part of Mshayi & Mr Thela with Make Cape Town Great Again, a Platinum-certified lockdown-era album that brought Cape Town gqom into homes, taxis and virtual parties across the country. Since then, his solo catalogue — including Tronics Land Series 1, Tronics Land Series 2, Tronics Land Series 3 and Langa — has expanded his sound through gospel melodies, heavy gqom drums and bold electronic textures. With songs including “iParty,” “Kwandonga Ziyaduma,” “Hello,” “Ekhaya” and “Songena Yini,” Mr Thela continues to carry Cape Town’s gqom sound onto bigger stages while keeping its local spirit intact.