By Nomsa Dlamini (Intern)
LOMAHASHA – Born on a crisp winter morning in the Lubombo region on June 21, 1998, Bongani Gamedze — now known as BoB Musician — is making serious noise far beyond Eswatini’s borders. With roots in the quiet village of Nduma, under the late Chief Mbandzamane Sifundza, BoB’s rise from rural obscurity to international music circles is a story of passion, grind, and raw creative fire.
Gamedze’s first “studio” was a phone. In 2016, under the name Shy Kid SD, he began crafting beats using Acoustica 4, making sound effects manually and building melodies by feel. Inspired by his father, a CD and cassette vendor, his love for music was born early and deeply.
“My dad used to sell music. That energy stayed with me,” he says.
By 2018, BoB had levelled up to FL Studio and began experimenting with afro beat, Amapiano, and electronic-infused grooves, pulling inspiration from greats like DJ Tira, Master KG, and David Guetta. His talent grew, leading to the release of several EPs and an album under the brand Muzzic World Ent. But a major cyberattack forced him to hit reset.
From that digital setback rose BoB Musician, a new identity rooted in resilience and rebranded under the banner AFRO MELODIES — and he hasn’t looked back since.
“I don’t download beats. I create them,” he declares. “I wanted a sound that’s 100% me.”
BoB is now at the center of Cypher 4, an international collaboration uniting young hip-hop voices from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini, all stitched together by his production, and guided by fellow creative Bless LePoet. His fingerprints are also all over homegrown projects — working with gospel names like Mduduzi Magagula and Likhwa M, and collaborating regularly with South African acts.
Despite juggling a demanding 12-hour day job, his nights are reserved for music. Whether he’s producing, mentoring young Ekasi artists, or dropping vocal samples on TikTok, BoB is locked into his craft.
“Music lives in me. I can’t switch it off,” he says.
Notable releases like “Umona”, “Ngiyamthanda” (featuring Crispy Tee and Lady Y), and “My Inner Frequencies” showcase his gift for melody and emotion. He’s honest about his creative limits — Maskandi and certain gospel styles aren’t in his wheelhouse — but BoB listens to everything and adapts with ease.
He uses TikTok as a modern focus group, teasing upcoming tracks to gauge fan reactions before official drops. It’s a savvy move for a self-taught producer with one foot in the village and the other in the global music economy.
From dusty backyards to digital airwaves, BoB Musician is proof that global dreams can grow from the most local of roots.
Follow BoB on YouTube and TikTok under AFRO MELODIES to catch his latest projects, teasers, and cross-border collabs.
