Soul Kulture's Afeletsi Manamathela and Msekeli Velaphi are still on a high.

The duo say they didn't see their triple MetroFM Music Awards nominations coming.

The talented musicians are up for best group award, along with Durban's Finest, Jaziel Brothers, The Soil and Encore.

Other noms are in best Afro-pop and best newcomer.

"Yho sisi! We are still shocked, and nervous that this is all happening. It really means a lot to us," says Manamathela.

"We want to win all three awards but, if we can't, we will settle for two. This is so that other people from humble beginnings like ours can be inspired to dream because they see that it is possible.

"We would like to be international artists and to collaborate with the best of the best like John Legend."

They've come a long way since a chance meeting in Dutywa, Eastern Cape, where they sang as buskers to provide for their families. The duo followed their parents separately to Khayelitsha, Cape Town, to further their education.

Manamathela lost his mom just two weeks before the start of their music career.

"This nomination shows me that losing my mom wasn't the end of the world for me," Manamathela says.

"When something is taken away, God always puts something else back," Velaphi adds.

Soul Kulture has since moved to Johannesburg to further their music career.

"Life in Jozi is nice but very fast. We are slowly getting used to it. We are grateful for this opportunity because this is what we came here for, this is what we want," says Velaphi.

The duo confess that they are loving the perks of fame.

"Just last year we went to Durban and Limpopo. We stayed in hotels for the very first time. It was really fun," Manamathela says.

The duo did not do any gigs during December because they went to initiation school.

"We are now men - from boys to men," says Velaphi with a giggle.

They both plan to complete their Grade 12 in Johannesburg as soon as they find a school.

masemolam@sowetan.co.za