Seh Calaz Biography|Real Name, Age, Education, Music Career, Albums, Love Life, Children, Controversies, Winky D
Seh Calaz is a highly acclaimed and award-winning Zimdancehall artist. He has made a significant impact on the music scene with his unique style and infectious beats. From a young age, Seh Calaz possessed an innate passion for music, which led him to pursue a career in the industry.
His exceptional talent and dedication to his craft have earned him prestigious awards, solidifying his status as one of the most influential figures in Zimdancehall. With his undeniable talent and unwavering determination, Seh Calaz continues to push boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.
Real Name
Tawanda Mumanyi
Age
He was born on the 2nd of August, 1990 in Mbare. As of 2023, he is 33 years old.
Education
Seh Calaz did his primary education at St Peter’s and Chirodzo Primary schools. For his secondary education, he enrolled in St Charles Mutendi High, Malborough High, and Trust Academy.
Throughout his upbringing, Seh Calaz faced several family challenges, which resulted in him frequently changing schools. These circumstances necessitated transitions from one educational institution to another, highlighting the resilience and adaptability he demonstrated during his academic journey.
Seh Calaz biography (Image Credit: Instagram@sehcalazmusic)
Music Career
Multi-award-winning Zimdancehall chanter Seh Calaz started music from a very young age. He has always believed that he was destined to be a musician due to his deep passion for the art form from an early age. According to him, music chose him rather than him choosing music.
Between 2008 and 2011, Seh Calaz was a choir member at Christ Embassy Church, while also venturing into secular music. Despite pursuing a career in secular music, he remains a devoted follower of Pastor Chris, the leader of the church.
In 2011, as the Zimdancehall music scene was gaining momentum, Calaz decided to explore his musical talent in that genre. Under the stage name Seh Calaz, he recorded his first song, “Mbare,” during this period. Although he was relatively unknown at the time, his entry into the industry garnered attention.
From that initial release, Seh Calaz went on to produce numerous songs, establishing himself as one of the most sought-after Zimdancehall artists. The rapid rise of the dancehall genre propelled the chanter to new heights, as he joined a generation of young artists from the ghetto ready to conquer other genres.
Dancehall shows quickly became a staple in Zimbabwe’s entertainment scene, and Seh Calaz solidified his position in the industry. In 2013, he made a grand entrance with his song “Mabhanditi,” which went viral within the ghettos, even though it didn’t receive airplay on local radio stations. His subsequent release, “Mumota Murikubvira,” became popular on various radio stations. The song glorifies the use of marijuana. At the end of the year, he was crowned the ‘Best Male Dancehall Artist’ at the King of the Dancehall contest, triumphing over artists from Chitungwiza, Kwekwe, and Gweru and winning R10,000.
Seh Calaz has remained focused on his work, which has opened doors for him locally, regionally, and internationally. He has performed at high-profile local events and has embarked on multiple tours to South Africa.
As his popularity grew, he became known as “mubhanditi” (meaning “the bandit”). A pivotal moment in his career came when he collaborated with Jamaican dancehall artist Turbulence, becoming one of the earliest Zimbabwean Zimdancehall artists to work with an internationally recognized artist.
In 2015, he released his debut album titled “Bandit Rebirth,” featuring 12 tracks. This album showcased a departure from his confrontational style, addressing various societal issues such as unemployment, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, and abortion.
The album received positive reception and produced songs that still dominate the airwaves today.
Seh Calaz’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as he has received several local awards, including Best Vocalist at the Zimdancehall Awards for two consecutive years in 2013 and 2014. He also won the Best Club Hit and Best Video awards for his song “Ndinochema.”
Seh Calaz’s musical journey has been marked by resilience, growth, and recognition, cementing his position as a prominent figure in the Zimdancehall music scene.
Albums
- Bhanditi Rebirth (2015)
- Jamba Ngoma November (2016)
- Bholato Bholato (2020)
- Bvopfiro Pariro (2022)
EPs
- Bvopfiro Pariro (2021)
Clothing Label
Seh Calaz has a clothing label of his own. He ventured into the fashion industry by establishing his own clothing label, named Mabhanditi, which he refers to as his clan.
The stylish garments he proudly showcases on stage are exclusively designed and produced under the Mabhanditi brand.
With an eye towards the future, Seh Calaz has expressed his ambitions to elevate his clothing label to global recognition, setting his sights on expanding its presence beyond national borders and onto the international stage.
Love Life/Marital Status
Seh Calaz’s love life has seen both highs and lows. He was previously married to Thembelihle Moyo, but unfortunately, the couple eventually decided to part ways. The reasons behind their split were not publicly disclosed.
However, on 5 July 2016, Seh Calaz made headlines when he officially got engaged to Moira, the daughter of United Kingdom-based radio personality Eric Knight. The engagement took place at a private event in Harare, and the news was shared with fans through Calaz’s Facebook page.
Sadly, on 12 June 2017, reports emerged that Seh Calaz had engaged in a physical altercation with Moira, reportedly triggered by a dispute over his phone. Following the incident, Moira moved out of the Waterfalls apartment they were sharing, citing concerns for her safety. Despite the incident, she chose not to press charges against Calaz, expressing that she was still in love with him and unsure about her next steps.
Children
Seh Calaz and Moira Knight have a son named Treasure Winter Mumanyi who was born in 2020. Additionally, Seh Calaz has a daughter named Shalom Mumanyi from his previous marriage to Thembelihle Moyo.
It is worth noting that Seh Calaz is reported to have other children as well, although specific details regarding their names and backgrounds are not readily available.
Controversies
Seh Calaz has faced his fair share of controversies throughout his career. In May 2018, he found himself in legal trouble when Harare Magistrate Josephine Sande fined him $100, or one month in jail, for recording the song “Kurova Hohwa.” The song was deemed “indecent and obscene,” resulting in the penalty.
In another incident in February 2014, Seh Calaz, along with fellow dancehall artist Soul Jah Love, allegedly accepted a deposit for a performance at Club Whispers in Highfield but failed to show up for the event. Despite signing an agreement with the promoter and receiving payment, Seh Calaz opted not to attend the show, allegedly being in Cape Town, South Africa, on the same day for another performance.
In November 2014, Seh Calaz was involved in a physical altercation with Soul Jah Love during the Sting 2014 event held at the City Sports Centre in Harare. The fight escalated and spilled into the crowd, resulting in security personnel from the Zimbabwe Republic Police using tear gas to control the situation. Unfortunately, the use of tear gas led to a stampede, causing injuries to ten people.
Additionally, Seh Calaz had a confrontation with fellow artist Quonfused, allegedly stemming from Seh Calaz’s alleged affair with a girl who was in a relationship with Quonfused. This disagreement escalated into a physical altercation between the two artists.
Winky D
Seh Calaz and Winky D found themselves entangled in a highly publicized feud that ignited within the music scene. It all began when Winky D released his thought-provoking track “Mafirakureva,” which carried a powerful message urging the youth to refrain from drug use. However, the song faced backlash from certain segments of the ghetto youth community.
In this context, Seh Calaz perceived the song as a personal affront due to his previous hits that celebrated the act of marijuana smoking, such as “Ndiri Rasta” and “Mzii.” Viewing Winky D’s song as a direct challenge, Seh Calaz retaliated with his own release, the fiery response track titled “Kunyan’anya” (Mafira Kureva), which took aim at Winky D.
Following the release of “Kunyan’anya,” Seh Calaz boldly defended his decision to engage in this artistic clash.
The beef between Seh Calaz and Winky D became a notable chapter in their careers, showcasing the competitive nature of the music industry
