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Babes Wodumo threatens boycott if she fails to scoop a Sama

Wololo! Babes wodumo is the new girl to watch
Wololo! Babes wodumo is the new girl to watch

Queen of gqom music, Babes Wodumo, says she will not enter award shows anymore if she does not win at the Samas this year.

The talented singer and dancer, who broke into the music industry with her hit track Wololo, says she came to that decision after realising that music awards are not the same anymore.

"I am obviously happy to be nominated, but I don't have that over-excitement anymore. I even said to my team if we don't win an award this time, I am not entering awards anymore," she says.

Babes Wodumo, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, is nominated in five categories which include Female of the Year, Best Remix and Best Kwaito Album.

She was one of the most nominated artists at this year's Metro FM Awards with four nominations, but did not win a single gong.

"The awards are not the same anymore because people are playing unfair now, even with the Metro FM awards my fans were complaining, saying they danced to my songs all year and now they got snubbed.

"It is going to discourage me from entering the awards when others are not playing fair," she says.

She says she is, however, campaigning for the Samas, noting that life has not been the same for her since she made a big break in the entertainment industry last year.

The pint-sized beauty, who was dubbed "a national treasure" by her fans due to her unbeatable dance moves and easygoing personality, says she has been forced to abandon her social life.

"I can't even go out to dance halls with my friends anymore, because each time I go out, people recognise me and they either want to take a picture of me or want an autograph. I appreciate that greatly, but it has changed my life.

"If I want to chill with my friends now, I just call them over to my house and buy them whatever they want and dance away like we used to back in the days."

Simelane is updating her "queen of gqom" status and looks set to also become queen of hair.

Her hair extensions brand launches later this year.

"I am always bombarded by questions about my hair. I have people asking me where I get my hair from because it does not break and it remains shiny, even after I change its natural colour to green, blue or red," she said.

The KwaZulu-Natal beauty, who says she buys her hair in bulk overseas, says she wants her hair line to be affordable to everyone.

"I don't want to price the hair too high. I want young people from the townships to be able to afford it and look beautiful. I have not thought of a name yet, I might as well name it Wololo," she giggles.

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