Mamelodi Happenings Celebrate Don Dada’s 2018-2019 Achievements!

Hip-hop artist Menelik Nesta Gibbons aka Don Dada, a fast growing artist continues to manifest his career in the music industry. Today Mamelodi Happenings is continuing to celebrate his success and achievements. Don Dada had numerous achievements for the year 2018.

Speaking of 2018 achievements, Viva Mandela track – certified Multi-platform with 4 months of release (19th July 2017 -31st December 2017) since the beginning of 2018.

-On the 23rd of April 2018 he launched his Viva Mandela ft The Mahotella Queen on the official Mandela 100 Day on stage at Constitutional Hill.

-He accomplished a tribute track Long Live Mama Winnie Mandela ft Afripella choir and he was privileged to perform it on the first Black Deok memorial service held in Newton.

-His Hip-Hop4life radio segments online FB Live moved from 20k views per episode and that also attracted international attention.

-The international attention open doors for new and great opportunity where Don was invited to a 3 city Kenya concert tour with legendary Award Winning Everton Blender and  Reggae Power House Band.  The track Jah is good track supported by Bob Marley’s *Tuff Gong International distribution will be available digitally.According to Lyla Gibbons, Don Dada is the first in Africa to be offered such a deal.

-He released his first reggae EP titles 24 hours and had interviews on both local and international countless radio stations. On top of all his experience, he was invited in Zimbabwe Hip-Hop Summit 2018 as a panelist.

This year 2019:

-His Jah Is Good single and music video will be available commercially via Tuff International Distribution on Friday the 4th January 2019.

-He received an official invite from Reggae Power House Band to perform his Jah Is Good Track on the 2019 edition of Bob Marley’s birthday tribute concert in Jamaica.

After so much he has accomplished in 2018 and beginning of 2019, Don Dada is planning a tour for USA/Canada tour within the first quarter of 2019. There’s still more coming from a dedicated and committed fast-growing artist.

We should be inspired by his story. 

By: Fortunate Machaba

DD Takes 3 Kenyan Cities By Storm

Don Dada was invited to take a 3 city Kenya Concert tour with Jamaican crew- Everton Blender, an award winning Jamaican artist.

Lyla Gibbons confirmed that the tour was successful.

This happened after a HipHop4Life #DADAFriday was LIVE on Facebook, Don Dada received and accepted an interview on a Montreal Canada radio – Wadadli Vybz that broadcasts in New York. Jamaica was listening in and that lead to an invite and inclusion of Don Dada and his artist Somalia Mejane aka Seed Under on a very successful 3 city Kenya concert tour with legendary Award winning Jamaican Artist Everton Blender and the Reggae PowerHouse Band.

 

He Continued To Concur

From his tour in Kenya he went to Nombasa on the 15th of September, Nairobi on the 18th of September, Kimusu on the 22nd. He then went to Zimbabwe where he was a panelist for Zim Hip-hop summit 2018. Don Dada in the entertainment industry has achieved a great deal as a Hip-Hop artist and social influence in South Africa since he made his debut on the 2016 Mandela Day Concert stage.

His Radio segment HipHop4Life #DADAFriday on the 1912OnlineRadio recently celebrated its 1 year anniversary. The Facebook LIVE broadcast has become so popular, it currently has a weekly average of 30k views and attracted viewers in Canada, New York and Jamaica.

 

His original VIVA Mandela song reaching Multi-Platinum within a short 4 months of release.

 

 

“My names, Menelik Nesta Gibbons aka Don Dada are a true reflection that I am destined for greatness. The name Menelik is derived from King Menelik of Ethiopia direct descended of King Solomon and Queen Sheba.

Don Dada had the privilege of meeting Tata Madiba’s granddaughter
Ndileka Mandela and he managed to give her the 3 singles – Viva Mandela, Viva
Mandela remix ft Mahotella Queens and Long Live Mama Winnie Mandela.

Don Dada has an amazing and inspiring narrative with achievements that are a rarity and are extraordinary for an independent artist, it gives hope and encourages commitment, dedication and perseverance.

By: Fortunate Machaba

 

 

 

 

Don Dada Released & Performed Mama Winnie’s ‘Tribute’ Song

Menelik Nesta Gibbons, also known as Don Dada has released Ma Winnie Madikizela Mandela’s song titled ‘Long Live Mama Winnie Mandela’ on Friday, 06 April 2018, and performed at the memorial service in Newtown. The ‘tribute song’ was in respect of celebrating the life of a remarkable women.

“There are more lessons from Mama Winnie left for us, but the ones that are standing out the most for me is never cowering on your beliefs, always stand for what you believe in even if at times it seem impossible. Mama Winnie’s love for the youth, everything that Mama did was dedicated in uplifting the youth and communities and I think that’s something that speaks very deeply  for me because I believe in it so much that the youth is our future”, said Don Dada.

He added that when he was writing the song he felt the sense of pride because there is no many artist in the world that gets the opportunity to write a song about a global icon like Mama Winnie, he also said he felt a tinge of sadness as he was writing it, he hope that people will feel the same way, if the appreciation of what Mama Winnie went through and did for the nation.

Don Dada has achieved  a great deal as a Hip-Pop artist and a social influencer in south Africa. He has a lot of energy, enthusiastic and positive, with this boldness and unwavering passion for his work. He has not only achieved those mentioned but also as someone who wants to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Don Dada’s vision is to encourage the youth to step into their destiny without a fear and continue shining the light through education.

Having called South Africa home during his formative years, Don Dada has grown Hip-pop career, established himself as a social entrepreneur, motivational speaker and an event MC, who realised early in his life that he wanted to pursue a purpose driven life.

Breaking down his achievements over the years:

In April 2016 he released his first registered single called ‘WANT THAT’ and performed on Mandela Day Tribute Concert. From the concert, he completed the full AVANT GARDE Album in less than 3 days, (the album is available in digital platforms worldwide). In 2017 he pushed the boundaries further and promoted his album in Zimbabwe and received an offer through Content Connect Africa to do the 2017 Mandela song. This fueled the birth of his VIVA Mandela song supported by CCA, MTNSA and has relevant Nelson Mandela Foundation permission. He also received an offer to start his own weekly Hip-pop segment called Hip-pop4life #DadaFriday.

By the 2^nd week of the show in his true Dada#GameChanger style, Dada convinced the 1912Radio to transform Ruff CuTT Studio to include broadcasting and now claims the title “First Artist with Active Inhouse Broadcasting Capability”. Catch his Hip-pop4Life#DadaFriday 18hoo-20ho.

Don Dada aims at change the statutes for himself and others by defeating limitations such as lack finance through driving education, empowerment and entrepreneurship. Having had the opportunity and blessing to ‘breath life to others’  through music , Don Dada continues to strive for success and give a helping hand to those who struggle to sustain themselves in the industry.

By: Fortunate Machaba

Mamelodi Happening Congratulates Artist Of The Week!

 A DIFFERENT VOICE…

…TO RAP, with his booming baritone! Don Dada brought an unusual voice to local Hip hop. Most rappers tend to be high pitched as they spit rhymes, not the laidback Dada, you can call him the Barry White of rappers. His single VIVA MANDELA has on Thursday, 22 February 2018, awarded RISA certified Gold Award for sales achieved from the July 2017 release to September 2017 in 2.5 months! That’s a Massive achievement!

Don Dada had mentioned that his birth names and aka Menelik Nesta Gibbons aka Don Dada destine him for greatness, looking at this facts below:

• Menelik after King Menelik of Ethiopia direct descended of King Solomon and Queen Sheba
• Nesta after Bob Nesta Marley who Don Dada’s mother met on the streets of Zimbabwe in 1980 when Bob Marley performed his [Bob] song ‘Zimbabwe’ in celebration of the 1980 Zimbabwe independence.
• Don – Boss of bosses and Dada – Jamaican [Patwa] version of DON. Ironically named after Bob Marley who performed the song Zimbabwe for the 1980 Zimbabwe Independence celebrations and 38 years later on what most consider the next independence, Don Dada’s Zimbabwe Kubatana song that has been officially recognized in Zimbabwe as 1 0f 4 songs released with Zimbabwe Kubatana the only one performed on the night of the 2017 inauguration on the HICC platform.

 

Don Dada has an eccentric life which translates beauty in his music. He was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, migrated to South Africa at the age of 5 and grew up in Turffontein south of Johannesburg.

He has never cut his hair and his long dreadlocks, hence you see it running over a metre and some centimetres. He’s found his musical home in rap and not reggae. However, inevitably, reggae seeps into his musical arsenal as he makes hip hop. There’s a lot more achievements coming his way just sit back and watch!

By: Fortunate Machaba

 

The Story Behind Menelik Gibbons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Sound is a wave, music is sound, there’s a place for everyone……”I AM THAT GAME CHANGER”, said Menelik Dada.

The storyline behind Don Dada is impressive, I think it encourages:

Entrepreneurial thinking and growth to change the African unemployment rate, a change in organisations where brand ambassadors and endorsement are afforded to those who are already successful to a blended approach of supporting entrance with winning attitudes – “we must give hope to our young generation”. Passion, perseverance, dedication and commitment combined with a plan that is executed is really a true story line that ends with success. As Dada correctly puts it, he said that ‘You are what you do”. 

Knowing the difficulties of entering the industry, in a bid to support other up-and-coming artists Dada has taken on a young artist that he is mentoring, Seed_Under a female rapper from PE. Dada debut Seed Under in her hometown on the 16th of December 2016 and went on to have her perform alongside him on an international stage. Dada marvels at the significance of his debut on the MTN Mandela Day Tribute Concert and his debuting Under Seed on the MadibazRadio on Reconciliation day the becoming the 2017 Mandela song artist adding ‘Yeah, my grind is validated by The Most High’. 

He’s currently fighting for breakthrough! knowing that his journey will inspire others as an independent artist that has had to continuously reinvent how things are done and push himself to get to this stage. Don Dada feels that he is standing on his own as a people’s champ. “I care about the soul of the next person and I want to make everyone comfortable with my talent,” said Dada. He added that he has been studying the game for a while and now he’s ready to make his move, “this is my year’ declares Dada. His statement rings true as he made his debut on the MTN Mandela Day Tribute Concert stirring the crowd with songs that they, and he was hearing for the first time – Good Way to go Don!

By: Fortunate Machaba

Don Dada Shares His Journey With Mamelodi Happenings

Don Dada To Bring A Unique Voice To Local Hip-Hop

As we all know that most rappers tend to be high pitched as they spit rhymes, not the laidback Dada – you can call him the Barry White of rappers.

Menelik Nesta Gibbons, 30 has an eclectic if not eccentric life which translates beautifully in his music. He was brought up by a Rastafarian father and Christian mother and was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, migrated to South Africa at the age of 5 and grew up in Turffontein south of Johannesburg. He’s found his musical home in rap and not reggae. However, inevitably, reggae seeps into his musical arsenal as he makes hip hop.

In 2016 after well over a decade of making unofficial tracks and working in the background, Dada decided it was his turn to shine! Together with his dad RasMoe the registered a company RuFF CuTT Studio and with the basic of equipment working from his bedroom, he set the wheels in motion.

 Don Dada released his first registered single WANT THAT on April 2016 and while busy with his promo tours he applied to perform on the MTN Mandala Day Tribute Concert. He was approved and allocated a six minutes but the problem was that he only had a  three minutes song. That did not faze him! He accepted then got into action to complete the second song to fill that time slot. In two weeks the second song was registered with RICA / SAMRO and available for download on MTN Network.

Don Dada made his debut on the 2016 MTN Mandela Day Tribute Concert, dropping the new song PHESHE PHAYA on stage and received a positive response from the crowd.  From the MTN Mandela Concert stage Dada worked with SuperProducerRapz they completed the full AVANT GARDE Album is less than 3 days! This album is available on all digital platforms worldwide.

In 2017, Don Dada decided to pushing the boundaries further heading to Zimbabwe to promote his album. Within 7 days his album was playing on the 3 mainstream national stations and Don Dada was featuring on the front page of the top selling paper on a Sunday and the middle spread of another paper!

Dada was still basking in the success of the Zimbabwe tour when he received an offer from Content Connect Africa to do the 2017 Mandela song! Dada accepted as he felt that the man who gave his life to freedom for others needed to be celebrated – this fuelled the birth of his VIVA Mandela song supported by CCA, MTN and has relevant Nelson Mandela Foundation permissions. Unlike his usual speed to produce Dada took a few days starting by reading Mandela’s ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ and using extracts of that journey to create a song that can be used to tell that story.

The VIVA Mandela song quickly gained momentum and Dada was invited by the ANC Johannesburg Region 1912Radio to spend Mandela Day and join their team 60min Mandala initiative. His AVANT Garde album also gained momentum in Zimbabwe, leading to an invite to perform on the Shooting Stars Concert stage opening for a Jamaican artist Darmaco aka Kon Kong on 26^th August 2017.

The concert in Zimbabwe industry communicated ‘An Historic Event’ of two major Jamaican Artists performing on different stages on the same night. Post performing to an estimated 6300, Dada’s popularity increased as he captured the Zimbabwe audience and while still in Zimbabwe, he received the offer to start his own weekly Hip – Hop segment on the 1912Radio. Dada as usual full of confidence agreed to the opportunity even though the mandate was a launch date of the 1^st of September 2017 leaving him with four days to put a program together that included having guests to interview.

Dada managed to pull off a very successful launch of this segment which he named HipHop4Life #DadaFriday. To differentiate form traditional radio programs Dada added a facebook live footage and a youtube video of the full 2hr audio/visual show.

By: Fortunate Machaba

Don Dada Visited About 19 Radio Station Including Mams FM

“Viva Mandela” by Don Dada, The official  2017 Mandela day song to pay homage to the late world icon.

The 30-year-old singer, Don Dada from Johannesburg recently released his first album Avant Garde with the 2nd single ‘Phese Phaya’ coincidentally released on 2016 Mandela Day Concert stage. Since from the release of the song on the 7^th July, Don Dada has completed interviews on 19 Stations including Mamelodi FM (Mams FM), done several print media interviews and attracted the attention of neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe ZiFM Stereo and the Daily News. The song is currently receiving airplay in those countries.

This brought inspiration and added to the task of writing a Mandela tribute song. While the song is Madiba-themed and inspired by the book “MANDELA LONG WALK TO FREEDOM,” it has a distinct Dada flavour incorporating hip-hop and reggae, featuring a versatile female artist Seed_Under and Phiwe Romeo Phekana his close friends from PE. The footage below includes MadibazRadio PE Crew and locals.

“Viva Mandela” was recorded at Don Dada’s studio and record label, RuFF CuTT Studio, produced by Super Producer Rapz and coordinated by his dad RasMoe.

The recording of the Viva Mandela track, however, was a four-day process and unlike most songs about Tata Madiba, Dada decided to make his special song upbeat.  When asked about the type of the song made Dada retorted. “Most of the Mandela songs are sad and I wanted to make mine more upbeat. I wanted to change the way we think about the man who brought freedom to South Africans and inspired the world”, said Don. On hearing the song, Impressed and inspired,  Don Dada and his family were invited by the ANC Joburg Region 1912OnlineRadio to spend Mandela Day together.  

The day started off with a one-hour LIVE tribute interview, followed by the distribution of sandwiches ( made by Don Dada), keeping the streets tidy and finally enjoying a Tata Madiba Birthday cake. footage for some of which we extracted from the ANC Joburg Region 1912OnlineRadio Instagram pagehttps://www.instagram.com/1912onlineradio/  

 

It is very inspiring to see youths band together exceeding 67minutes by putting in a full day of servicing others together:

 

The team decided that a VIVA Mandela Music video was a must! The ANC Joburg Region 1912OnlineRadio media man was quick to volunteer his services, unphased by limited funds and zero sponsors the crew worked on a 3day project [including travel], elated by how successful MANDELA DAY was. It took a 13hour overnight trip to the Eastern Cape where Don Dada did 3 radio and 1 TV interviews and completed the first phase of the music video.

 

At the time of this release, the actual filming in two regions is complete the music video is in editing and should be available in a few days from now.

The final filming in Soweto

 

Don added that VIVA Mandela has been well received by most stations and locals in the community. “This has been the most enlightening experience that one can only attain by serving, TOGETHER we CAN achieve so much more even without money,” said Dada.

Every year on 18 July the world celebrates a birthday of the late former South African president and world renown icon Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. This year is no different and Hip hop artist Don Dada is celebrating with the release of his official 2017 Mandela Day song titled Viva Mandela. The song is available for streaming and download on all major digital music platforms.

By: Fortunate Machaba