Joliza was born in Walmer Township in Gqeberha in 1991. His family is originally from Emawusheni Village in KwaBhaca.
He started experimenting with music in 2005 and since then he has been composing and independently releasing his music from locally produced singles, EPs, and albums, some of which have been played on national radio stations such as Radio 2000, Umhlobo Wenene FM, and TruFM, and local radio stations like KQFM and BayFM. In 2017, he won the Best Newcomer Award in the inaugural Bay Area Music Awards (BAMAs) and was also invited through the Imilonji Project to perform at the 6th Annual Ebubeleni Music Festival.
In 2018, he was commissioned by the PE Opera House for a solo show as part of the Jazz Afro Sunday sessions. In the same year, he was nominated and scooped three awards in the Best Newcomer, the Best Male Vocalist, and the Best Afropop categories at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Bay Music Awards.
Although his music reflects some elements of Afro soul, jazz, and maskandi, Joliza calls his music Bhaca soul music, a genre which leans more on traditional Bhaca rhythm elements of “ukucwiya” (spiritual singing), “ukuvalela” (spiritual humming), and “ukusina” (spiritual dancing).
Notable Events:
National Arts Festival in Makhanda (2020 & 2022).
Mandela Bay Arts Festival in Gqeberha (2022).
Ebubeleni Festival’s All – White Heritage Picnic (2022).
IsiXhosa Music Festival (2022).
