KwaDukuza’s King Wanda takes off with Rebound

KwaDukuza upcoming musician and actor King Wanda Gumede has been composing music since he was 14.

The 26-year-old released his 8 track EP titled Rebound last Friday.

The first single off the EP was released in July and the catchy afro-pop hit titled “Kilode” won the Gagasi FM “Must or Dust” show, where listeners vote for the best new song of the week.

The single track has been getting good airtime on local radio stations with the music video being released in August.

In his EP, he worked with 3 of his favourite artists: rappers Felli Kay, VIN and Sain. 

“All these guys are from my hometown and that’s special to me. Even my music video was shot by Natar Khazi who is also my photographer, he’s also from KwaDukuza. The EP was recorded in KwaDukuza as well, it’s a good feeling.”

Growing up in Shakaville, Wanda said that by age 12 he knew he wanted to be an entertainer, but that every parent wants their child to get an education.

“My parents and I made a deal that I would go to varsity and then focus on my dreams. That’s how I ended up at Mangosuthu University in Umlazi, where I did public finance and accounting and ultimately public management,” said Wanda.

“At school the girls would request songs whenever they saw me.”

This gave him the courage to learn how to compose music.

He said creating a record from scratch was one of the most magical feelings and since then he had been making music, but just never dared to put it out there.

“In 2017 I entered a singing competition called “Vodacom NXTLVL” and out of thousands of entrants I made it to the Top 20. They flew me to Johannesburg and it was my first time in a plane. I met some incredibly talented people, one of them being Costa Titch who is one of the biggest artists in South Africa’s Hip Hop industry.”

Although music is his first love, acting came before music for him.

In 2018 he joined a casting agency intending to see himself on television. He said at that point he just wanted to be an extra, but he got more than that.

His first role was on eHostela, a few months later he got a role on Uzalo, the most-watched television show on South African television. 

Before lockdown he bagged another small role on Imbewu.

“I remember when I was in primary school, we had to do a play. I was the only kid who took it seriously. But I was asked to play a baby, which meant I had no lines. So, me being me, I was not going to take it laying down. I went home and took my baby brother’s baby clothes without my parents knowing. When it was my group’s turn to perform, I arrived crawling on the floor and making baby noises, ensuring all eyes were on me. My class teacher thought I was mad.”

Hard-working as he is, he admits that he’s a very mushy guy.

“I cried after reading messages from friends telling me that they look up to me and how proud they are, that was too much for me. I want to go through the ups and downs of dream chasing so that those who are watching can have a blueprint of how to navigate through the bumps. I want to leave a legacy of not giving up, and never minimizing your dreams.”