Kabza de Small

Kabelo Petrus Motha (born 27 November 1992) is a South African DJ and record producer, popularly known as Kabza de Small. He is a major figure in the amapiano genre of house music.^[3][4][5] Aside from his solo career, Motha is a member of the Scorpion Kings. Motha gained international recognition after the release of "Umshove", in 2018.

Kabza De Small
Born	Kabelo Petrus Motha (1992-11-27) 27 November 1992 (age 32) eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Occupations	DJ record producer
Spouse	Kamogelo Geloo Moropa ​ ​ (m. 2023)​ [1][2]
Musical career
Genres	Amapiano house
Instruments	Keyboards piano drum machine electronic drums synthesizer
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Piano Hub (current) Bestbyfar (former)

Kabza's third studio album I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust (2021), debuted number one in South Africa.

Forbes Africa ranked Motha number 18 on Forbes Africa 30 under 30. His accolades include thirteen South African Music Awards, five Metro FM Music Awards, three AmaPiano Music Awards, two Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards, one Sunday Times GenNext, and one Dance Music Awards South Africa.^[6]

Life and career

Born and raised in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, later Motha with his brother Sphelele Xaki who is an Electrical engineer and philanthropist relocated to Pretoria. His musical career began in 2009. He was signed under Tyrique de Bruyne and released his first album Avenue Sound in 2016 under Bestbyfar Records.^[7] Kabza established his own record label PianoHub.

His breakthrough single "Umshove" featuring South African singer Leehleza was released in 2018.^[8] On 1 October 2019, he released Piano Hub with DJ Maphorisa. The Extended play was certified 3× platinum in South Africa.^[9] The Return of Scorpion Kings was released on 29 November 2019.^[8]

On 31 January 2020, Scorpion Kings (Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa) announced Scorpion King Live, which was set to be 11 April, at Sun Arena, Times Square in Pretoria.^[10] The concert was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak,^[11] and was rescheduled to 9 August.^[12][13]

His studio album I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust, was released on 26 June 2020. The album was certified double platinum in South Africa.^[9] In December 2020, Kabza was listed as the most streamed South African artist by Spotify.^[14][15] That same month, Kabza announced collaborative studio album Rumble in the Jungle, and released lead single "Funu", featuring Afro-pop singer Tresor in February 2021.^[16] Rumble in the Jungle, a collaborative studio album by Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa, and Tresor was released on 9 April 2021.^[17][18]

Motha was ranked at number 18 on Forbes Africa's 30 under 30 list in June 2021.^[19]

In July 2021, he was featured on Rolling Stone magazine for his musical career.^[20]

On 27 September, Kabza and DJ Maphorisa released "Abalele" featuring South African singer Ami Faku.^[21] The song debuted number 4 on the Spotify charts and number 1 on the official South African Music Charts.^[22][23]

Kabza appeared on a collaboration "Siyabonga", with DJ Zinhle, Nokwazi, and Black Motion released on 26 November 2021. The song debuted number 24 on both Local and International streaming charts.^[24]

In early January 2022, he announced his album KOA II Part 1, on his Instagram account.^[25] The album was set to be released on 16 June 2022.^[26]

His studio EP Ziwangale was released on 22 April 2022.^[27] Its lead single "Ziwa Ngale" featuring DJ Tira, DJ Exit SA, Beast, Mshunqisi, Young Stunna, and Felo Le Tee, charted number on iTune SA music charts.^[28]

The other three songs, "Ebusuku" featuring Nkosazana Daughter, "Kabza" featuring Murumba Pitch, and "Mak'shoni" Langa" featuring DJ Maphorisa, Murumba Pitch, and Da Muziqal Chef, debuted at number 7, number 12 and number 26 respectively, on iTunes music chart.^[28]

On 31 May, Kabza released 6 singles; "Khusela" featuring Msaki, "Bathini" featuring Young Stunna and Artwork Sounds, and "Isoka" featuring Nkosazana Daughter and Murumba Pitch, as part 1 of his album.^[29]

KOA II Part 1 (pronounced King of Amapiano 2 Part 1) was released on 16 June 2022.^[30]

The album debuted number 11 on iTunes top 100 chart, and "Khusela" peaked number 1 on Apple Music charts.^[31]

In June 2022, Motha announced a 3 leg tour that ran from 24 to 26 June.^[32][33]

In early October 2022, he announced he was working on his EP via Twitter, and released a lead single "K'shubile" with Kwesta featuring Masterpiece YVK. In November 2022, he worked with Afrika Memani on the Road To Private EP, which was released on 4 November.^[34]

Scorpion Kings announced Summer Tour which includes 9 dates, it ran from 11 December at Cape Town until 25 February 2023, Gauteng.

Kabza reportedly working on joint extended play together with Ami Faku, announced on his Twitter account on 13 February 2023.^[35] Release date and EP title are yet to be announced.

In May 2023, he collaborated with DJ Maphorisa to release a 25 track mixtape project titled The Konka Mixtape (Sweet & Dust) Album.^[36]

In early July 2023, Kabza was reported as a producer of Drake's It's All a Blur Tour.^[37]

"Isibusiso" featuring South African singer Mthunzi was released on 20 October 2023 as a lead single ahead of his extended play Isimo. The EP was released on 27 October 2023.

In April 2024, his show Redbull Symphonic with Ofentse Pitse and Symphonic Orchestra was sold out in 5 hours becoming the first artist to do so.^[38][39] It was held at Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg on 8 June 2024.^[40] Following the success of his first show, Redbull Symphonic added second show which was sold out in 8 minutes broke second record for him, was held on 9 June.^[41][42][43]

"Kabza Chant" featuring Young Stunna, Nkosazana Daughter, Mthunzi, Nokwazi, Anzo, Mashudu, Marumba Pitch, and Tman X-Press was released on 7 June 2024. It debuted at number 1 on SA Spotify Daily Charts.^[44]

His studio album Bab' Motha was released on July 18, 2025.^[45] The album debuted number 9 on Spotify Top Global Album Charts, becoming his first album to reach summit of the chart.^[46]

Awards and nominations

All Africa Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2022	"Adiwele"	African Fans Favourite	Nominated	[47]
	KOA II	Album of the Year	Nominated
	Himself	Artist of the Year	Nominated

Dance Music Awards South Africa

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2019	"Amantombazane"	Best Amapiano Record	Won	[48]

DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2020	"Nana Thula"	Favourite Song of the Year	Nominated
	Himself	Favourite Rising Star	Won
		Favourite DJ	Won
2022	"Asibe Happy"	Favourite Song	Nominated	[49][50]
	Scorpion Kings (Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa)	Favourite music artist/group	Nominated
		Favourite DJ	Nominated

South African Amapiano Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2021	Scorpion Kings Live	Amapiano Album of the Year	Nominated	[51]
	Scorpion Kings	Best Amapiano Male DJ Act	Won
	Himself	Best Amapiano Music Producer	Won
	"Emcimbini"	Best Amapiano Collaboration	Won
2023	"Abalele"	Song of the Year	Cancelled	[52]
	"Asibe Happy"		Cancelled
	"Khusela" featuring Msaki		Cancelled
		Best AmaPiano Produced Song	Cancelled
		Best Amapiano Collaboration	Cancelled
	"Asibe Happy"		Cancelled
	KOA II Part 1	Best AmaPiano Album/Ep	Cancelled
	Himself	Best AmaPiano Producer	Cancelled
		AmaPiano Artist of the Year	Cancelled

South African Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2020	Scorpion Kings (DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, MFR Souls & Virgo Deep)	Album of the Year	Won	[53]
		Best Kwaito/Gqom/Amapiano	Nominated
	The Return of the Scorpion Kings (Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa)		Nominated
2021	Once Upon A Time in Lockdown – Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa (Scorpion Kings)	Album of the year	Won	[54]
	I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust		Nominated
		Male Artist of the Year	Won
	Once Upon A Time in Lockdown (Scorpion Kings)	Duo/Group of the Year	Won
		Best Amapiano Album	Won
	I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust		Nominated
2022	"Asibe Happy"	Record of the Year	Nominated	[55]
	"Abalele"		Nominated
		Most Streamed Song of the Year	Won	[56][57]
2023	Speak N Vrostaan (with Kwesta)	Best Kwaito Album	Won
	KOA II Part 1	Best Produced Album	Won
		Best Amapiano Album	Won
	Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena (with DJ Maphorisa)	Duo/Group of the Year	Won
2024	"Kulula"	RiSA Audio Visual Music Video of the Year	Nominated	[58]
	"Nana Thula"	Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year	Nominated
	"Gangnam Style"		Nominated
	"Imithandazo"		Nominated
		Best Collaboration	Nominated	[59]
	Isimo	Motsweding FM Best Amapiano Album	Won
		Radio 2000 Duo/Group of the Year	Won
		SAMPRA Album of the Year	Won

Sunday Times GenNext

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2021	Himself	Coolest Local Club DJ	Won	[60]

Trace Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2025	"Imithandazo"	Best DJ	Nominated	[61]
		Best Producer	Nominated

Urban Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2025	Himself	Artist of the Year	Pending	[62]
	Isimo	Best Album	Pending
		Best Collaboration	Pending
	Himself	Best Amapiano Act	Pending
		Best Male Act	Pending
		Best Producer	Pending
	"A-Z (Yashi Moto)"	Best Music Video	Pending

Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2021	"Emcimbini"	Most Voted Song	Nominated	[63]

Metro FM Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2023	"Khusela" featuring Msaki	Song of the Year	Nominated
		Best Amapiano Song	Nominated
	"Mrholo Wayizolo" Kabza de Small & Kwesta	Best Kwaito/Gqom	Nominated
		Best duo/Group Song	Nominated
	Himself	Best Male Artist	Nominated
2024	"Imithandazo"	Song of the Year	Won	[64]
		Best Collaboration	Won
		Best Amapiano	Won
	Isimo	Best Produced Album	Won
	Himself	Best Male	Nominated
2025			Nominated	[65][66]
		Artist of the Year	Nominated
	"Hayi Baba"	Best Dance Song	Won
	"Wishi Wishi"	Best Collaboration Song	Nominated
		Best Viral Challenge	Nominated
		Song of the Year	Nominated

Listicles

Name of publisher, name of listicle, year(s) listed, and placement result

Publisher	Year	Listicle	Placement	Ref.
Forbes	2021	30 Under 30	Placed	[67]

Honors

• Musician of the Year- presented Bisquit: Kabza De Small — GQ South Africa (2024)^[68]

Discography

Studio albums

• Avenue Sound (2016)
• Pretty Girls Love Amapiano (2019)
• Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 2 (2020)
• I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust (2020)
• Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 3 (with MDU aka TRP)
• KOA II Part 1 (2022)
• Rekere (2023)
• Bab'Motha (2025)^[69]

Collaborative albums

• Scorpion Kings EP (with DJ Maphorisa) (2019)
• Piano Hub EP (with DJ Maphorisa) (2019)
• The Return of the Scorpion Kings (with DJ Maphorisa) (2019)
• Scorpion Kings Live at Sun Arena (with DJ Maphorisa) (2020)
• Once Upon a Time in a Lockdown (with DJ Maphorisa) (2020)
• Petle Petle EP (with DJ Maphorisa & King Deetoy) (2021)
• Rumble in the Jungle (with DJ Maphorisa & TRESOR) (2021)
• Pretty Girls Love Amapiano 3 (with Mdu aka Trp) (2021)
• Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena (with DJ Maphorisa) (2022)
• Speak N Vrostaan (with Kwesta) (2022)
• The Konka Mixtape: Sweet & Dust (with DJ Maphorisa) (2023)^[36]
• Isimo with Mthunzi (2023)
• Kings Will Rise (with DJ Maphorisa) (2025)

EPs

• Ziwangale (2022)

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Certifications	Album
		ZA
"Heavenly Elements" (V.Soul, Kabza De Small)	2015			Non-album single
"Let It Flow" (Spumante, Kabza De Small)	2018			Non-album single
"Never"				Non-album single
"Bamba la" (featuring Leehleza & Stokie)	2019			Non-album single
"Funu" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, Tresor)	2020			Rumble In The Jungle
"Why Ngikufela" (featuring Sha Sha & DJ Maphorisa)				I Am the King of Amapiano: Sweet & Dust
"Lala Ngoxolo (Kabza De Small, Kelvin Momo featuring Mhaw Keys)				Non-album single
"Abalele" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Ami Faku)	2021			Non-album single
"Siyabonga" (DJ Zinhle, Black Motion, Kabza De Small, Nokwazi)				Non-album single
"Asibe Happy" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Ami Faku)				Non-album single
"Nduma Ndumane" (Mawhoo, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Da Muziqal Chef)	2023			Non-album single
"Kelaphile" (Mr Brown, Kabza De Small featuring Deeper Phil & Mkeyz)				Manasseh
"Nyuku" (LaTique, Chronical Deep, Kabza De Small)				Non-album single
"Ucingo" (Mashudu, Kabza De Small)				Non-album single
"uNonkosi" (Young Stunna, Kabza De Small featuring Deeper Phil & Mfundo Da DJ)				Non-album single
"Ungiphethe Kahle" (Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Nokwazi, Mawhoo, Mashudu, Lee Art)				Non-album single
"Moshomo" (Mr Brown, Kabza De Small)				Non-album single
"I Have Decided" (Earful Soul, Kabza De Small, Stakev featuring EnoSoul, Artwork Sounds)		—	Gold	Ear II Heart
"Kabza Chant" (featuring Mthunzi, Young Stunna, Nkosazana Daughter, Murumba Pitch, Mashudu, Anzo, Nokwazi, T-Man Xpress)	2024	1		Non-album single
"Bang'bize" (Leehleza, Kabza De Small featuring Young Stunna)				Non-album single
"uKhome Lotto" (Dinho, Tumza D' Kota, Kabza De Small featuring Optimist Music ZA, A'gzo, Seun1401, El.Stephano)		—		Non-album single
"Yebo" (Jnr SA, Darque, Kabza De Small)		—		Non-album single
"Ngifa Nawe" (MFR Souls, Kabza De Small featuring MaWhoo, Bassie, T-Man SA, Shane907)		—		Non-album single
"3 Step to Funk" (Sponge 101, Soul Nativez, Kabza De Small)		—		Non-album single
"Hero To Zero" (Mkeyz, Kabza De Small)		—		Non-album single
"Hayi Baba" (Chronical Deep, Latique, Kabza De Small featuring Leehleza, Ezra)		—		Non-album single
"Akan'hloniphi" (King Deetoy, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa featuring Hulumeni)		—		Non-album single
"You Can Win" (Earful Soul, Poizen, Kabza De Small)		—		Against All Odds
"Wishi Wishi" (Kabza De Small, Vigro Deep, DJ Maphorisa featuring Scotts Maphuma, Young Stunna)		2[70]		Non-album single
"Iza Mawala" (Tycoon, SLY, Kabza De Small featuring Dladla Mshunqisi & Goldmax)		—		Non-album single
"Impi" (Murumba Pitch, Kabza De Small, Mthunzi featuring Phila Dlozi)		—		Impi
"Nkosi" (Darque, Kabza De Small, Dlala Thukzin, Sino Msolo)		—		Non-album single
"Nasempini" (Kabza De Small, Spirit of Praise featuring Ayanda Ntanzi, DJ Maphorisa, Stavek)		—		Non-album single
"Umusa" (Nobuhle, Kabza De Small)	2025	—		Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Certifications	Album
		ZA
"Akulaleki" (Samthing Soweto featuring Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small)	2019			Isphithiphithi
"Awesome God" (Artwork Sounds, Bee Bar featuring Kabza De Small)	2023	24	RiSA: Gold[71]	The Gospel According To Artwork Sounds Chapter II
"Uzongenzani" (Nkosazana Daughter featuring Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa)		—		Uthingo Le Nkosazana
"Noma Kanjani" (Sino Msolo featuring Kabza De Small, MaWhoo & Azana)		—		Non-album single
"Malume" (Elvirgo, Tallex Q featuring Makhadzi, Kabza De Small & Lxrd Mordecai)		—		Non-album single
"Bayabuza" (Pervader, Young Stunna featuring Kabza De Small, SLY)		—		Non-album single
"Expedition" (Poiżen featuring Kabza De Small, Jus Funo, Seraph im)		—		Lowkey
"High Senses" (Deeper Phil, Chronical Deep, Latique featuring Kabza De Small)	2024	—		Non-album single
"Esgela" (Aymos featuring Eemoh, Kabza De Small)		—		Non-album single
"Vukani" (Pervader featuring Kabza De Small, SLY)		—		Non-album single
"Mbambeni" (Dench, SLY featuring Kabza De Small, TYCOON)		—		Non-album single
"Ngempela" (Mashudu, Shakes & Les featuring Kabza De Small, Murumba Pitch)		—		Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album
"I Wanna Be"	2020	Black Motion	The Healers: The Last Chapter
"Impendulo"	2023	Darque, Berita	More Life
"2 Step"	2024	Shimza, DJ Vitoto	Dreaming
"Mpumelelo"	2025	Dlala Thukzin, Kabza De Small, SYKES, Limit Nala, Thukuthela	031 Studio Camp 2.0
"Muthi"		Dlala Thukzin, Kabza De Small, Mk Productions, Zeh McGeba, Masuda

Other charted and certified songs

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Certifications	Album
		ZA
"Imithandazo" (Kabza De Small, Mthunzi featuring Young Stunna, DJ Maphorisa, Sizwe Alakine & Umthakathi Kush)	2023	1[72]		Isimo
"Amazwe" (Kabza De Small featuring MaWhoo & Mthunzi)		7[73]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.