JOHANNESBURG – It is hard to believe that Dr Malinga, one of the most popular artistes over the past two years, has only just released is debut album with Kalawa Jazmee. Therese Owen joined him on the set of SABC2’s Gauteng Maboneng.
“AH, how are you? So good to see you.” The deep voice that greets me so warmly is none other than Dr Malinga.
We are on set for the shoot of episode 22 of the second season of Gauteng Maboneng.
This is his first foray into acting and probably not his last. He and the other cast members are going through their lines for a scene that involves the former Choppa (Mandla Gaduka) of Generations trying to fix a car while Dr Malinga confesses his undying love for his niece’s tutor.
Dr Malinga is dressed in white tennis shorts, a head band, a white T-shirt and running shoes. He plays a wannabe rapper and it is clearly his never-ending energy that drives the character.
They break often during filming, going backwards and forwards throughout the scene. In between, he flexes those famous muscular legs in the oddest, but typical Dr Malinga way.
He is also a constant source of amusement and has a running whistle lisp joke with the cast.
Actress Noxolo Maqashalala starts to sing Natasha Bedingfield’s Feel the Rain and Gaduka joins in loudly. Dr Malinga, not knowing the song at all, then joins in by singing Shosholoza. It’s all rather fun and Gaduka cannot stop laughing at Dr Malinga’s antics.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
When the shooting for the scene has ended we leave the studio and go to the car park to listen to his new album, First Injection.
Sitting in his cluttered white van, he ejects a Rebecca Malope CD and puts in his own. During our very first interview he had spoken of his passion for the gospel artiste and how he was mad as hell when Lundi arrived on the scene because he always thought he was destined for that role.
He shakes his head regretfully: “Yeah, Lundi stole my shine.”
Forward, however, to the eccentric Dr Malinga and his new album. The opening track, Thandaza, is produced by Heavy K: “This is about thanking people for their support, but also telling them to be strong, take steps to the future and don’t let people take you down. It’s a gospel house track. You don’t always have to sing about girls.”
His other musical idol is Ringo and Dr Malinga features an Uhuru remix of Ringo’s big hit, Nkqo Nkqo on which Ringo also sings.
“I am honouring the legend while he is still alive,” he says. “Ringo is the greatest singer. I don’t want to sing this song when he is dead. People like him paved the way for us.”
There is also a Black Motion remix of Stimela’s Go On Living Your Life: “Dr Malinga and Ray Phiri have similar dance movements. Plus, Black Motion introduced Dr Malinga to the mu . . . (he pauses) zik. Tey produced my hits, Casanova and Father to Be.”
There are also two tracks with Mono-T including a banger called Shake: “I wanna see the women shake, shake,” he smiles.
We move to a lounge upstairs in Urban Brew Studios where we continue the interview. The biggest question is: Why did it take so long for him to release?
“The Kalawa Jazmee directors saw that Dr Malinga was big without an album and they gave me a platform without an album. I think it was also God’s plan.”
The reality is that featured artistes are never noticed, but then how can you not notice Dr Malinga? Those dance moves, that purple shorts suit, his exuberance on stage and the fact that he can actually sing made him one of the most in-demand artiste in the country, first via Black Motion, then Fisherman and then the big Mahoota vs Vetkuk hit, Via Orlando. But, how does he conduct his own shows without an album?
He says that he performs all his hits which are about six in total.
“And then guess what? Dr Malinga is a talkative guy. He is a comedian and loves interacting with the crowd. I won’t run out of material.”
He suddenly starts clicking his fingers and breaks into song. Then he jumps up, sways his hips and then gives that kick.
He is interrupted by a runner from the TV show who wants him for a wardrobe change. However, Dr Malinga is having none of that. He wants to carry on chatting about his first love, music.
“Acting is tiring,” he confides. “It’s seven-to-seven every day.”
And what about travelling with SA Tourism as the face of the Via Mzansi campaign? Was that tiring? He shakes his head.
“My favourite places in South Africa are God’s Window and Coffee Bay. It’s so simple there. There is a big sea and simple houses and it’s nice and rural.”
Another highlight is travelling to London to perform: “I was surprised that people know Dr Malinga from Hammanskraal in London.”
So who is Dr Malinga?
“Do you know the name ‘Goodwill’? What does it mean?” I guess it means that you have the will to promote goodness in the world.
He smiles and opens his arms wide: “That is my other name! I am a simple guy. Fame has not changed me. Love God. Respect people.
“In fact, my message is: Be yourself. Dance a lot. Don’t forget your future. Don’t forget to be in love, even though they hurt you, forgive them. Oh, and don’t do drugs. The energy I have is from God. I go there sober-minded and kill that crowd.”
He also has his own clothing label, Wadijaja, and his own range of shoes, which are available to order on his Facebook page.
Gauteng Maboneng airs on SABC2 on Monday, 8pm. –IOL
