Sjava Bio, Wiki
Sjava, also known by his formal name Jabulani Hadebe, is a multi-talented South African artist who excels as a singer, rapper, and actor. His acting journey commenced in 2005, featuring in various drama series and films, notably “uGugu no Andile” in 2009.
Sjava’s breakthrough came with his role in the acclaimed drama series “Zone 14,” where he starred for three consecutive seasons, alongside appearances in “Isibaya” and the second season of “eHostela.” Transitioning into the music scene, Sjava signed with Ambitiouz Entertainment and gained mainstream recognition after his collaboration with Miss Pru on the hit song “Ameni” in 2015.
His debut album, “Isina Muva” (2016), showcased his innovative sound, blending African pop, hip hop, and contemporary R&B. The album received widespread acclaim. He followed up with his second studio album, “Umqhele,” in 2018, which continued his fusion of sounds and expanded his influence across Africa and beyond. Before “Umqhele,” he released his debut EP, “Umphako,” in the same year.
Upon departing from his former label, Sjava, along with Ruff, co-founded 1020 Cartel and released his Extended Play “Umsebenzi” in 2020, which achieved Gold certification in South Africa.
In 2023, his third studio album, “Isibuko,” debuted at number one and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), further solidifying Sjava’s position as a leading figure in the South African music industry.
Sjava Age
His birth name is Jabulani Hadebe and was born on 2nd December 1983 in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He is currently 40 years old.
Sjava Height
His actual height has yet to be revealed, but it will be updated as soon as his body measurements are released.
Sjava Family
Sjava is the son of Thandi Nkabinde, his mother, and belongs to the Hlubi ancestry. He has two older siblings: Sibusiso, his brother, and Sindy, his sister.
Sjava Wives
Sjava has three wives and has revealed this in an Instagram post.
The following are his wives:
1.Thumeka ‘Thumthum’ Jack
Sjava tagged the women in his Instagram post, with the first being Thumeka. She is a mother of three and a Herbalife distributor, as stated in her Instagram bio.
Thumeka prioritizes her health and fitness, regularly sharing videos of her gym routine and meals. Additionally, she has a passion for music and dancing, evident from her Facebook page where she frequently posts motivational messages alongside her dance videos.
2. Queen Sdudla’
Queen Sdudla, a body positivity advocate, licensed pharmacist, and plus-size model, prioritizes a healthy lifestyle.
With her own YouTube channel boasting 450 subscribers at the time of this writing, Queen Sdudla attributes her journey towards self-love to her achievement of reaching the top five in a modeling competition back in 2014.
In addition to her modeling pursuits, Queen Sdudla holds qualifications in business management, with her brand focusing primarily on promoting body positivity. On her channel, she shares videos showcasing her relationship with Sjava and his performances during the years 2019 and 2020.
3. Pearl Mzolo
All three women have private Instagram accounts, but Mzolo’s bio indicates her admiration for international artist Chris Brown, maskandi music, and fashion. She also mentions that she is a mother.
Earlier this year, Sjava expressed his desire to move on from the serious allegations of rape made against him by his ex, Lady Zamar. He disclosed that he experienced emotional distress during an interview on SABC1 in January 2021.
The uMama hitmaker further explained that it has been challenging for him since he was “cancelled” by the industry. He asserted that he lost numerous music gigs and acting opportunities due to the allegations.
Sjava Career
Sjava began his journey as a music writer at a young age. At just ten years old, he took on the responsibility of crafting original lyrics for songs performed by his all-boy isicathamiya group, Abafana baseMpumalanga, during his time in primary school. As he progressed to high school, Sjava delved deeper into music composition, transforming musical notes into full-fledged songs and imparting them to his classmates.
2016–2017
Sjava made his debut appearance on DJ and producer Miss Pru’s track “Ameni.” The hit song also showcased artists from the Ambitiouz Entertainment record label at the time, including Emtee, Fifi Cooper, B3nchmarq, and Saudi, who remains with the label to this day.
On April 8, 2016, Sjava launched his solo career with the release of his debut single, “Ekuseni.” Following this, he dropped his first album, “Isina Muva,” on July 22, 2016. The album’s title, derived from a Zulu saying meaning “late bloomer,” reflected Sjava’s journey. “Isina Muva” achieved Gold certification from the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), prompting Sjava to commemorate the milestone with a deluxe version of the album titled “Isina Muva: Gold Deluxe.” This release earned him the Best Produced Album award at the 23rd South African Music Awards and a similar accolade at the 16th Metro FM Music Awards. Additionally, “Isina Muva” received four nominations: Best Afro Pop Album, Best Male, and Best New Artist. In 2017, Sjava further showcased his talent by recording the theme song for the Mzansi Magic drama telenovela “Isithembiso,” which premiered on April 3, 2017.
2017– 2019
The film “Black Panther” was accompanied by a soundtrack album curated by rapper Kendrick Lamar, featuring Sjava. Sjava collaborated on the track “Seasons” alongside rappers Mozzy and TDE rapper Reason. This album received a nomination for Album of the Year at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, marking Sjava’s first nomination at the prestigious ceremony.
Sjava’s debut EP “Umpakho” showcased its lead single “Abangani,” featuring Saudi and Emtee, released on June 14, 2018, along with a video paying tribute to their humble beginnings. His talent was recognized when he won the BET Award for Best New International Act at the 2018 event on June 24, 2018. “Umpakho” was officially released on July 6, 2018, and quickly rose to the top of the iTunes local chart on its debut day. The four-track project highlighted Sjava’s portrayal as an advocate for the working class.
Following his successful debut, Sjava released his second studio album, “Umqhele,” on December 14, 2018. The album’s lead single, “Umama,” preceded the album’s release by seven days. Sjava’s performance of “Umama” on the global music platform COLORS on May 13, 2019, further showcased his talent. “Umqhele” also secured the top spot on the iTunes local chart and received positive feedback from critics.
Sjava’s accolades continued to grow, as he was awarded the Best Male Artist in Southern Africa at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards on November 23, 2019.
On May 26, 2020, Sjava took to social media to announce his departure from his label, Ambitiouz Entertainment. He expressed gratitude to the label for providing him with an “opportunity and platform when no one else did.”
2020-present
After parting ways with Ambitiouz Entertainment, Sjava took the initiative to sign himself to his own record label, 1020 Cartel and dropped his Extended Play “Umsebenzi” on December 14, 2020. The EP received gold certification.
On June 10, 2022, Sjava collaborated with South African band Mafikizolo on the track “10k.”
In December 2022, he unveiled his third studio album, “Isibuko,” which hit the shelves on January 27, 2023. The album features notable guest appearances from artists such as Shwi, Saudi, Emtee, Sampa the Great, Delayde, Lolli Native, Qwabe Twins, Umzukulu, Umzulu Phaqa, Udumakahle, Anzo, Vernotile, Inkos’ Yamagcokama, and Nontokozo Mkhize.
The single “Isoka,” featuring Q Twins and Mzukulu, topped the Metro FM Top 30 chart for two consecutive weeks.
Teaming up with Big Zulu, Sjava collaborated on their joint album “Ukhamba,” under the moniker Inkabi Zezwe. The lead single, “Umbayimbayi,” dropped on March 24, 2023, debuting at number one on the Top 100 South Africa chart and earning a 3× Platinum certification in South Africa.
He collaborated with Big Zulu, a renowned South African rapper and songwriter.
Television
Between 2005 and 2013, Sjava pursued acting, featuring in various television shows such as Zone 14, Generations, Soul City, 7de Laan, uGugu and Andile, and Isibaya. In August 2020, he secured a minor role in Uzalo and appeared in Season 2 of eHostela.
In March 2023, Sjava landed the role of Prince Mkhuseli Khahlamba in the series Queendom.
Studio albums
Isina Muva – Released: 22 July 2016
Umqhele – Released: 14 December 2018
Isibuko – Released: 27 January 2023
Sjava Net Worth
She has an estimated net worth of between $1 Million – $5 Million which she has earned through her career as a journalist.
