Zimpapers Logo

Sipepisiwe Moyo, [email protected]

Peacemaker Mpala, better known as Smekalicious, is a talented artiste from Bulawayo now based in South Africa. Known for his skills in both singing and dancing, Smekalicious has shared the stage with numerous artistes in South Africa including Oskido, DJ Vetkook and Mahoota, Mgarimbe, and Platform One, carving a niche in the Kwaito and Amapiano genres.

Smekalicious (right) with Freddie Gwala

Smekalicious discovered his passion for the arts at a young age, singing in church.

Smekalicious with ladies from Platform one

“I grew up listening to Kwaito while being part of a Christian family where I used to sing in the church. That’s where my love for music began, and I knew I wanted to become a Kwaito star. I initially started as a Kwaito dancer,” he recalled.

In 2011, Smekalicious transitioned into music, releasing songs for two years before taking a break from the stage. He returned in 2016 with a five-track album titled “Omapakisha”, featuring three Gqom songs and two Amapiano tracks. His latest release, an Amapiano hit titled “S’groover Nabo Makhe”, dropped in October and features Visca.

Smekaliciois with Mahootah and Vetkook

Taking his brand beyond music, Smekalicious launched a clothing line, “Smekalicious Omapakisha”, to show appreciation for his fans and connect with them on a different level.

Over the years, he has shared the stage with prominent artistes such as Oskido, DJ Vetkook and Mahoota, Mgarimbe, Bekezela, Platform One, Freddy Gwala, Vigro Deep, Daliwonga, Shota, Drumpope, and Visca.

Smekalicious often performs in nightclubs and speaks highly of his experiences working with artistes from both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“Collaborating with big names from both countries has been invaluable. I’ve learnt so much about how an artiste should present themselves to their audience and community,” he shared.

However, being an independent artist has come with challenges.
“Getting bookings can be difficult without a major label, and the Covid-19 lockdown was a major setback for my career,” he noted.

Despite these obstacles, Smekalicious remains optimistic and revealed that he is working on several new projects set for release soon.