A new role, another TV show: Zola is making a spirited comeback

He’s been through a difficult patch, but things are finally looking up for musician Bonginkosi “Zola” Dlamini. 

The decision to distribute his own music was a tough one to make. The past few years were difficult financially and he lost two properties. But his career is back on the up. 

Dlamini recently bagged a role as Isaac on the popular telenovela Isibaya, and is also going to host a new show, Utatakho, on Mzansi Magic 

“Selling your own music is very difficult and it’s not a cheap business. It’s difficult and expensive distributing music to the world,” he said. 

“Even the likes of producer and businessman Chicco Twala, and poet Mzwakhe Mbuli would tell you. Imagine your entire life you have invested your entire life and nobody is booking you for gigs, you have no choice but to hustle to survive.” 

For seven years, Dlamini said, he had taken flak and had been accused of “all sorts of things”, but he decided to stay quiet. 
Dlamini has since bounced back and is looking forward to hosting Utatakho, which will start on July 7 at the coveted 7.30pm slot. 

Utatakho is a 13-part series focusing on resolving issues of paternity using DNA testing. It gives people the opportunity to ask questions – and get answers – about their parents. 

He said he was still warming up and getting the feel of the show. “The show is emotionally bashing. Viewers are going to witness a lot of drama and emotions,” he said. 

Clinical psychologists are a staple of the show because people needed to leave the screening in a good space emotionally and spiritually. Dlamini said men needed to open up about how they, too, are abused. 

“I give advice to and direct men to the children’s court. There are men who don’t know their visitation rights and it’s about time that they open their eyes,” he said. 

Dlamini has also been working on a documentary where he will be interviewing musicians about the music industry. “I want to shoot my own things so that I can own them; I won’t be in the documentary myself.” He is also working on his two books, Spinach is Still Growing and We Did Things in the Dark.