Making the man: Loyiso Bala on music, career, family & fatherhood
Loyiso Bala is one of the rare individuals in the entertainment industry, who seem to have music in their blood. From growing up surrounded by musical family members and joining the Drakensberg Boys Choir to forming the wildly successful Bala Brothers band with his siblings and eventually becoming a solo artist with his first album in 2003, Loyiso has done it all, breaking just about every boundary along the way. In a career marked by outstanding achievements and tough lessons, Loyiso says he is still learning and growing every day.
‘I grew up in a musical family, so music was always a way of life for me. But I never even dreamt of it as a career, only because the musicians I knew of were all major popstars in Johannesburg or America – far away from where I grew up in the Eastern Cape,’ says Loyiso. He says that even though he never dreamt of working in the music industry, he knew that he would always be singing, no matter what – it was just simply a part of who he is as a person. And what a road it’s been. Loyiso has enjoyed some stellar moments so far. Since launching his career he has been lauded as one of South Africa’s finest musical minds. He has performed locally and across the globe, and has nabbed several awards along the way, including three Metro FM Awards, five SAMAs, one for Best R&B Album and Best Producer, amongst others.
He’s even been nominated abroad, such as at the MTV Awards alongside Alicia Keys and Akon. Today he has several albums under his belt and collaborations with some of the world’s finest musicians. But reflecting on all his achievements, Loyiso says it’s spending time with one very special individual that stands out the most. ‘Being invited by Nelson Mandela himself to perform at his 90th and 91st birthday celebrations in London and New York were two of the biggest highlights in my career. Not only representing my country on a global stage but being blessed enough to have spent many moments with him at his house listening to his stories.’
While the entertainment industry seemed to be the natural and organic route for Loyiso to follow, his passion doesn’t only
lie in performance. Actually, Loyiso says there’s just as much love and joy for him behind the scenes. ‘I’ve always had a great interest in broadcasting since my school days,’ he says. ‘In fact, when I was young, I would even pretend to be a radio and TV presenter!’ But this only materialised a bit later in his career, when presenter Gareth Cliff called him up to ask whether he would be interested in doing a podcast on CliffCentral. Here, he learnt the ins and outs of producing content and radio broadcasting. And as fate would have it, while Loyiso was studying at the Henley Business School, he was headhunted by TBN Africa to join the television channel as its director.
He completed his MBA, and then applied to the SABC as Business Manager for the Eastern Cape Combo, which is responsible for Umhlobo Wenene FM and trufm. ‘As much as business is different from performing,’ says Loyiso, ‘I approach it in the same way I approach songwriting. Many of the challenges we face today as a business, in a rapidly changing environment, need creative solutions. For me, creativity is not necessarily “coming up with something new”, but rather building something new from what you already have in your hands.’
This is also how Loyiso faced the challenges of the pandemic head-on. ‘It came completely unexpected,’ he says. ‘And the challenges experienced by everyone was no different to what my family went through.’ Loyiso says that when the pandemic was in full swing, he lost half of his income, and had to adapt and cut down costs to get through the unprecedented lockdown. ‘I believe that if it were not for my business education and my wife’s experience in digital marketing, we wouldn’t have made it safely through. And so that’s why I would encourage all of my fellow musicians to constantly develop themselves because you never know when you might need your newly acquired skills.’
Outside of his career, Loyiso is a family man through and through. In fact, he credits his family as being the safe space he escapes to after a long day. ‘When I’m not working,’ adds Loyiso, ‘I am with my family. They are my reality and they keep me grounded in all ways. At home, I’m not a musician or a businessman, or even a TV personality – I am just a father and a husband.’ It’s in this space, amongst his family, that Loyiso has also realised some of his greatest lessons, and says that it’s his loved ones that keep him striving to be better.
‘Fatherhood has taught me to get rid of any form of selfishness in my life. I don’t just live for myself anymore, but for my wife and children. So whether I’m at home, or on a business trip, I always keep them in my heart and on my mind.’ Guiding his actions in this way, Loyiso hopes that his children can one day look back on his life and career and learn from his experiences. ‘As my children look at my life journey, I want them to learn that one’s destiny is not guaranteed. I want them to see that success comes from working hard, and praying constantly.’
‘I also want to show them that love is a doing word,’ which Loyiso adds is something that he would also say to all fathers in the country if he could. ‘Fatherhood requires you not only to support your children financially but to be present in every aspect of their lives.’ With rich history and experience behind him, and his family by his side, we’re still going to see a lot more from the musical and business talent that is Loyiso Bala.
Words by Edwain Steenkamp
Photography: Callen Jefferson/HMimages.co.za
