The reason why Kwesta dropped out of high school! Well-known South African star, Soweto-born actor and rapper Senzo Mfundo Vilakazi, better known as Kwesta, recently opened up about his childhood, family, and music career on the King David Podcast.
The award-winning musician shared personal insights, revealing the struggles he faced while pursuing his passion for music.
Kwesta
Kwesta explained that his journey to success was not easy and that he had to fight for his career from a young age. “I went to some extreme measures to kinda show how serious I was. I ran away from home,” the rapper revealed, emphasizing his dedication to making it in the music industry.
His love for music and language developed during his school years, where he found himself fascinated by the English language. “I used to write speeches for other students, and that kinda grew into poetry,” he explained. This early interest eventually led him to pursue music, despite the challenges that came with it.
Kwesta’s determination to follow his dreams put him at odds with his family, particularly his mother, who had different aspirations for him. Raised by a single mother, he described the conflict between her academic expectations and his creative ambitions. “I was stubborn, and I didn’t share those dreams,” he said. “So much so that we didn’t get along for a while.”
At just 16 years old, Kwesta made a bold decision to leave home and drop out of school. According to TshisaLIVE, he took this step to fully immerse himself in his music career. “I stopped living at home, basically ran away, and went to live in the studio where I recorded the first demo—the one I sent to Slikour and Shugasmakx,” Kwesta recalled. This demo marked the beginning of his rise in the South African music scene.
Despite the difficulties he faced, Kwesta’s story highlights his determination to carve out a successful career in the music industry, a path that required significant personal sacrifices. Today, he is not only recognized for his achievements in music but also for his resilience and passion for the art form.
Watch at 28:30