Joe Mafela

Joe “Sdumo” Mafela (1942–2017) was a pioneering South African actor, comedian, musician, director, and producer whose career spanned over five decades across stage, screen, and recording arts. Rising to prominence in film during the 1960s and 1970s—including roles in early Black South African cinema like uDeliwe (1974)—Mafela became a household icon in 1986 as the beloved, scheming lodger S’dumo in the SABC television sitcom ‘Sgudi ‘Snaysi. As a co-owner and creative director at Penguin Films, he went on to shape post-apartheid television comedy with classics such as Going Up, Madam & Eve, and Stokvel.

Beyond acting, Mafela enjoyed a major music recording career signed to Gallo Record Company. His smash 1995 hit single “Shebeleza (Okongo Mame)” off the album Shebeleza Felas became a massive radio crossover success and served as the official anthem for the historic 1996 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. A trailblazer across advertising and live performance, Mafela’s legacy remains a bedrock of South African popular culture.

Music Styles:

Afro-pop | Traditional

Instruments:

Vocal | Percussions