“It’s Always a Pleasure”: A Conversation with Oscar Mbo
Catching up with Oscar Mbo is always special. The South African DJ, producer, and podcasting pioneer greeted us warmly: “Yo, man, how you feeling?” — to which he quickly added, “First and foremost, congratulations!” This warm exchange set the tone for a conversation that covered everything from his music to fashion, fatherhood, and national issues close to his heart.
A Father Again: “It’s Just an Amazing Feeling”
Oscar Mbo recently announced that he’s now a father for the second time, a moment he describes as “a blessing and God’s grace.” When asked what it feels like to be raising sons, Oscar smiled: “I have to protect my surname, brother.” The star shared his joy in welcoming his second child with long-time partner Lerato Phasha. A recent TikTok video from May 28, 2025, showed Oscar embracing fatherhood with love and pride.
“Vuka” and the Art of Timing
His latest single, “Vuka,” has become a national anthem of motivation. Dropped on December 16, 2024, Oscar deliberately chose to release it late in the year, planning for it to peak in the motivational spirit of January 2025.
“From the 7th, 8th of January, the song started to spike up… it became the number one song for two months,” he explained. He attributes the song’s success to timing and organic rollout: “There’s so much that happens behind the scenes—marketing, rollouts. Vuka was another masterclass.”
The Mastermind Behind Hits—And Hit Timing
Oscar’s talent isn’t limited to making hits; he’s also a strategist. He shared how he advised KG Smalls to delay dropping “Yes God” to avoid it getting lost in the wave of his own album release. “It’s difficult when you’ve got a hot song in your hands,” he said, “but timing is everything.”
His research-driven approach comes from studying global trends and absorbing inspiration from others—even those who don’t know him. “We have all this internet… I use it to learn.”
Beyond Deep House: Exploring Afro Sounds and Three-Step
Known for his rich deep house roots, Oscar Mbo is now expanding into more Afro-inspired sounds and the rising three-step movement. “I wanna be an all-rounder,” he said. “Deep house is forever in my heart, but as an artist, I have to grow. I want to inspire the young ones looking up to me.”
Style Icon with a Purpose
Named Best Dressed Celebrity at the 2024 GQ Best Dressed Awards, and winner of Best-Styled Artist of the Year at the 2024 Metro FM Awards, Oscar Mbo is as celebrated for his fashion as he is for his sound.
He teased upcoming collaborations with global fashion brands, following a sold-out campaign with Steve Madden. “For a deep house DJ to do that—it’s very huge,” he noted. Expect more announcements in the next two months.
Family First: A Surprise for Dad
Showing that success hasn’t changed his values, Oscar Mbo recently gifted his father a Toyota Hilux, sharing a video of the emotional surprise online. The moment touched fans and showed Oscar’s commitment to family and gratitude.
Oscar Mbo in Context: A Brief Background
Oscar Mbongeni Ndlovu, professionally known as Oscar Mbo, is one of South Africa’s most innovative musical figures. He blends deep house, deep tech, Nu Jazz, broken beat, and lounge music into his productions. He also hosts the acclaimed podcast The Ashmed Hour, launched in 2010.
From his debut EP “Life & Love” (2019) to his SAMA-nominated album “For The Groovists” (2020), and collaborations with Kabza De Small, Oscar has solidified himself as a household name. He’s performed globally—Paris, Lisbon, Swaziland—and has earned appearances on Metro FM, Kaya FM, and Vuzu’s Hit Refresh.
Final Words: Gratitude and a Call to Action
Before closing, Oscar made an emotional appeal: “Let’s protect our women and daughters… What’s happening in the country is heartbreaking.” He urged unity, kindness, and mutual support in South Africa’s growing music community and beyond.
