UPON making her musical comeback, people thought Thulisile Madihlaba, popularly known as Chomee, was back in the arms of her former lover, Arthur Mafokate, or at least 999 Music. However, that is not so. The dance queen cleared the air that she is working on her own but Arthur is helping her here and there.
IT’S A WORKING RELATIONSHIP
Chomee recently released an album titled, Do More Squats, with a popular single, Zozela Zalala, under her own company Divatainment. She says she worked with Arthur and Wash as producers and still runs to Arthur whenever she needs help. “I’ve learnt a lot from him and still continue to. As much as I’m doing things on my own, I’m still able to go back to him and ask for advice on certain things that are still a bit foreign to me,” she says. “He’s been in the industry far more than I have been and the fact that he’s always willing to assist, whenever I encounter a glitch or anything of the sort, is phenomenal.” For quite some time, the two have not been seen together on social events or even working together since Chomee left 999 Music. But, in recent months, the two have been promoting each other on social media. “I’m so thankful that even after I left 999 I still get supported and cheered on by Arthur and 999 at large,” she says.
WHY SHE LEFT 999 MUSIC
Rumours were doing the rounds that Chomee left Arthur’s stable because he neglected her and invested his attention on Busisiwe ‘Cici’ Twala who has now left the stable after a bitter break-up with the self-proclaimed King of Kwaito. Clearing rumours that she left because of that, she tells Move! what made her leave. “It was more about growth. Basically, it was just about exploring the business side of the music industry. It was learning and tapping into a different side of the industry altogether and it was exciting,” she explains.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
She burst into the music scene at the tender age of nine as one of Arthur’s dancers. She describes the opportunity as an experience of a lifetime because she was at close range to the likes of Abashante, Boom Shaka, the late Makhendlas and Lebo Mathosa, among others. “Being introduced to the industry since being a kid has made me love it so much, and the love I have continues to grow with time,” she says. She also ventured into acting on SABC2 soapie Muvhango and also became a host on dance shows. Move! asked Arthur for an interview and he asked that we email him the questions. However, he had not responded to the email at the time of going to print
