Babes Wodumo Warns New Artists About Gqom Losing Its Identity and Meaning
- Babes Wodumo, known as the Queen of Gqom, raised concerns about the direction emerging artists are taking the genre
- The musician said she is disappointed by what she called 'senseless songs' being produced within the gqom space
- Rather than only criticising, Babes offered to personally mentor upcoming gqom artists using her industry experience
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Source: Instagram
Babes Wodumo is not staying quiet about the state of gqom. The musician, widely regarded as the Queen of Gqom, has spoken out about what she sees as a troubling shift in the genre, cautioning new artists against reducing it to catchy beats with nothing meaningful to say.
The Durban-born artist, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, said many newcomers are entering the gqom space but are not doing enough to honour what the genre actually stands for. In her view, some musicians seem to believe that powerful production alone is sufficient, without paying attention to the message carried within the lyrics.
Gqom is more than just beats
Babes was clear that music should do more than simply entertain. She believes artists carry a responsibility to communicate something worthwhile through their work, and she expressed disappointment at what she described as "senseless songs" circulating within the genre. Although she stopped short of naming any specific artists or tracks, she made it plain that watching gqom shift away from its roots is something that genuinely hurts her.
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Having built her career around the sound, Babes has a personal stake in its legacy. She rose to prominence through her breakout hit 'Wololo', which featured her late husband Mandla "Mampintsha" Maphumulo and appeared on her 2016 album 'Gqom Queen, Vol. 1'. Songs such as 'Mercedes', 'Umngan Wami' and 'eLamont' have since added to a catalogue that earned her gold and platinum recognition across the South African music industry.
Babes opens her door to emerging artists
Beyond sounding the alarm, Babes has extended an olive branch to younger musicians who want to grow within the genre. She said she is willing to set aside time to advise emerging gqom artists, drawing on her own background in songwriting and her years of navigating the music industry. She acknowledged that she is far from perfect, but maintained that her experience gives her something genuinely useful to pass on.
Her message boils down to a straightforward challenge: think carefully about the music you create, and take responsibility for protecting what gqom represents before its original character slips away.
Babes Wodumo keeps promise to Grade 12 learner
Babes Wodumo honoured a promise she made two years ago by attending Angel Sithole's matric dance as her official partner.
The gqom star went beyond the red carpet, treating the Class of 2026 to an after-party and encouraging them to excel in their final exams.
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Source: Briefly News
