Afro-pop singer AllOver I reveals musical inspirations and his new project
Speaking to TshisaLIVE, AllOver I revealed that his passion for music was sparked by international hip-hop icon 50 Cent. 'Growing up, 50 Cent's resilience and his come-up story spoke to me. His confidence and how he turned his pain into power inspired me to do the same with my story,' he said.
On the home front, he draws influence from kwaito legend Zola 7, who is widely celebrated for using music as a tool for empowerment and storytelling. 'Zola 7 was that voice for the voiceless. He made us believe that no matter where you come from, your story matters. That stayed with me.'
AllOver I's latest project Ukubona Abantu Abacindezelwa explores the struggles faced by everyday South Africans. The title, which loosely translates to 'seeing the oppressed people,' reflects a core theme of resilience and hope.
'The inspiration came from seeing people who are constantly beaten down by life — by poverty, by unemployment, by personal loss — but somehow they rise. Bouncing back, sophumelela as if akaze kwabheda (they succeed as if things were never bad),' he said.
Blending smooth Afro-pop melodies with lyrical depth, AllOver I hopes his music will uplift listeners and spark conversations about healing and survival. 'This is for the people who keep going even when life doesn't make it easy. I want them to know I see them, and they're not alone.'
With an ever-growing fan base and authentic storytelling at the heart of his music, AllOver I is a name to watch in the Afro-pop landscape.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
Viral 'white sock challenge' hits South Africa's streets
The global white sock challenge trend, which has captured the curiosity of millions on TikTok, has officially landed in South Africa – and the results have sparked conversation about the cleanliness of Mzansi's cities. The challenge, made viral by international content creator Jimbo Hall, involves wearing a brand-new pair of white socks while walking through various cities – and then showing how dirty they become by the end of the day. It's a simple but striking way to visually measure just how clean (or dirty) public streets really are. Hall's sock tests from the ultra-clean streets of Tokyo, the glitzy walkways of Dubai, and London's underground have racked up hundreds of millions of views, revealing stark differences in urban hygiene. @jimbo.h I was actually surprised by this 😂 #london #challenge ♬ Blue Danube Waltz – London Symphony Orchestra Back home, Tim Morrel, a Stellenbosch-based content creator known for his social experiments and pranks , decided to bring the trend to South Africa – with a twist. You might remember Morrel as the guy who: Started a full-blown concert during a university lecture during a university lecture Filmed what a car guard would do if someone tried to steal his vehicle Now, he's turning his lens toward public hygiene. In his video, Morrel walked through central Stellenbosch and the taxi rank area in his white socks, camera in hand. While filming, he was nearly mugged, showing that doing such challenges in South Africa also comes with safety risks not often faced in other global cities. But beyond the drama, the footage showed just how grimy the socks became – caked with dirt, dust, and black smudges after just a few hours. Morrel didn't hold back in his commentary: 'We're either not using the cleaning budget properly, or there's just no accountability. It shouldn't be this bad.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by morrellpov🧃 (@timmorrel) While some may view the white sock challenge as just another quirky trend, its underlying message hits home – clean streets are a basic sign of public health, infrastructure efficiency, and civic pride. In Morrel's words: 'It's more than a sock test. It shows us how far we have to go to make our spaces livable and safe.' The reaction online has been split. Many South Africans praised Morrel for raising awareness in a light-hearted yet powerful way. Others were quick to point out the need for better waste management, regular street cleaning, and civic education about littering. One user commented: 'Maybe if we had more people showing this side of things, we'd start taking responsibility for our environments.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
8 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
King Monada gears up to go global after signing with Sony Music
King Monada is gearing up to make global moves after signing with Sony Music. The lekompo superstar, who has been making waves throughout Mzansi, especially Limpopo, travelled to Johannesburg to sign a licensing deal with the record label. 'I wanted to make changes. I can't keep releasing music through the channels we're used to. We've had a lot of support, but it's difficult to reach other countries with our music. I trust Sony to do more than I've done for my career. I've been able to take it this far, so that's why I decided to sign with Sony,' the musician told TshisaLIVE. King Monada, real name Khutso Kgatla, was also gifted with a golden plaque for his hit song Lemenemene, which has garnered 12-million views on YouTube and 31,816 units in total. While he has many hits under his belt, he is showing no signs of stopping. He said his fans can expect more hits from his upcoming album, which he will be dropping soon. King Monada has a way of shedding light on matters that affect a lot of people in a humorous way. This time round though he took a different approach by exploring depression. 'When I make music, I don't sit down and write music based on something I can relate to. I'm just trying to be creative. I just want something different that I haven't done before. If we check titles that have to do with depression, you'd find that it's mostly hip hop or other genres and not lekompo. 'I'm always trying to be creative. My approach to making music and touching lives is using humour. So I talk about something serious but in a funny way. I know there are things that people go through, but there's no way to express it in a funny way. I wanted to come up with something where I can talk about their life experiences but in a humorous way.' Having signed to Sony Music, King Monada said he is hoping to collaborate with international artists and take the lekompo genre to the world. 'I like Nigerian music a lot, and someone I'll be working with soon does Afrobeat. For now, I'm focused on the local artists. There are features but it's just me and the boys I usually work with.'
Eyewitness News
10 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Nu Metro hoping to revitalise movie-going experience
JOHANNESBURG - Cinema corporation Nu Metro hopes to revitalise the movie-going experience for all South Africans. Through various partnerships and theatrical expansions, Nu Metro is on a bid to prove its slogan, 'We're more than just movies, we're an experience', true. The corporation held an event for media and stakeholders last Wednesday to discuss and unveil what sets it apart from its competitors. This includes partnerships with other corporations to bring down the steep ticket prices. Many have bemoaned this as the reason they're unable to watch the film industry's latest offerings. These include partnerships with Absa Rewards, Nedbank, Momentum, Sanlam, African Bank, Vodacom, and Clientèle. 'Our prices, if you're using the partners, have actually gone down [since 2019]. Our strategic move after Covid was to bring in more partners to make it [ticket prices] more affordable... So, really, for a family of four you're looking at R270 for tickets and R180 for Coke and popcorn. It would've cost you more in 2019,' said Nu Metro business analyst Menen Muthial. However, a drawback they might experience is that moviegoers will need to be members of these corporations to access these discounts, potentially alienating an audience who may, for example, prefer a Nu Metro-specific discount deal that doesn't require a third party to use. 'At the end of it, the benefits are there, and it's not only a movie benefit that sits with these partners… It's a basket of value that you get, but the choice is yours,' Andries Basson, the operations executive Nu Metro, said. Another offering from Nu Metro, seemingly more targeted towards families, is its ongoing collaboration with Bounce Inc, an indoor active entertainment company that it likens to an 'urban playground environment'. The collaboration aims to target 'underused cinema spaces', transforming them into smaller Bounce experiences at top malls across South Africa. It will also be integrating the two juggernauts through symbiotic giveaways and prizes and integrating loyalty programmes where spending at one earns rewards or discounts at the other. 'We're flipping the script on what it means to 'go to the movies'. It's not just popcorn and a seat any more. Now you can jump, play, explore, and connect - all under one roof,' it said in a statement. Nu Metro also offers experiences such as different cinematic viewings with its 4DX theatres, it's 3D Xtreme theatres, and the introduction of its ScreenX theatre in Gateway in Durban, an 'African-first' which it said will 'drop you into the middle of a film, as it is intricately engineered to bring moviegoers closer to the action'. Additionally, consumers can host and attend events at Nu Metro cinemas, be catered to a VIP viewing experience, a kids-only viewing experience, and host birthday parties. 'Nu Metro isn't just about watching movies - it's about the experience. With bold investments and a clear vision, the cinema group is reaffirming what audiences across South Africa already know: cinema is well and truly alive,' the statement said.
