Poverty can be scary, especially once you have tasted success and being at the top. So we can certainly understand the raw drive that forces those who have money to work harder to make more, so that they do not take any chances with the future.
However, there are those who have set themselves apart by their sheer veracity in chasing the bag. If it makes money, they are ready to do it, and today we allow them to inspire us to greater heights.
These are some Mzansi celebs with very diverse portfolios – the true definition of “hustlers”.
Warren Masemola
Actor Warren Masemola may have portrayed a very convincing Lentswe Mokethi on the popular soapie Scandal!, but that is not the only thing he is good at. Although he is already a star, Warren acknowledges that the entertainment industry keeps changing, and he cannot rely on just acting to put food on his table.
Even before he was a famous actor, he already had a diverse portfolio. He studied dance at Moving into Dance before he moved on to study drama at the Market Theatre Laboratory. He is also a voice artist, both which he could fall back on if acting went sideways for him.
But by far his most impressive side hustle was selling oranges.In 2020, a picture did the rounds on social media of him sitting on a bakkie selling oranges. He inspired Mzansi to see that no hustle was too small for anyone, seeing as he was even slightly embarrassed by it.
There is no celebrity in Mzansi who has worn more hats than DJ Sbu. He started out as a broadcaster on Tembisa Info Radio in 1998, then moved to YFM. He became a producer after working with Angela Ludek on Beauty and the Beast, then filmed a movie called Hang Time.
He is also an actor, and starred in the drama TV series It Rained Last Night. He also wrote a column for YFM, then switched to hosting TV shows, including Friends Like These and Gumbi Fire. And obviously, he’s a DJ, so he has his own music too. So far, we have him as a radio and TV host, a producer, an actor and a writer, and we haven’t even touched on his businesses yet.
He co-founded the record label TS Records with Thembinkosi. When that went down, he ventured out on his own and started the energy drink MoFaya, 26% of which he sold to Coca Cola. He has written the book on hustling and entrepreneurship – literally. In fact, he has multiple business books: The Beginning, Billionaires Under Construction – The Mindset Of An Entrepreneur and The Art of Being A Hustler.
Actress Asanda Foji prides herself in always having a plan. After she left the long running soapie Generations, she immediately kicked into action, to ensure she is never caught slipping.
She launched a line of gym wear called Foji Sportswear in 2017, which did wonders for female fitness fanatics, if the rave reviews are anything to go by. She diversified by starting a clothing brand, FELLE, and a bikini brand, Millionaire Queen Swimwear.
She also went back to school to study film in the Netherlands, with the hope of being more than just in front of the screen, and we are sure we will soon see her name as a producer for films and series.
“If it makes money, I buy it” - Zodwa Wabantu, 2022. And she has surely lived up to this mantra. Seriously, is there anything Zodwa doesn’t do? She recently launched her newest business, Zodwa Wabantu Shuttle Services, which will provide affordable buses for hire, to companies and communities.
In addition to this, Zodwa has a hair studio in Esikhawini, a chicken farm from which she sells eggs and chickens, an Undertakers Mortuary, and the Touchable Day and Touchable Night Perfume. All this is excluding all her brand endorsements, including Go and Fun SA, Flawless Delight Studio and Herwood Medical Centre, among others. And we have to remember she has a job too – entertaining.
She is coming for all the bags, and we are here for it!
If you’re starting to feel like you can’t keep up with DJ Zinhle, don’t worry, you’re not alone. We can’t keep up either. She recently announced that she would be entering the fragrance business, after a fan asked when the ERA Fragrance would be introduced. She promised that it’s coming soon, just not under the ERA brand.
So let’s lay out what she does, okay? She is a DJ – a phenomenal one at that – so naturally she has quite a few songs, many of which are hits. She is the CEO of Boulevard Nectar Rose, owns a luxury furniture company (we’re sure you forgot about this), has a hair company – Hair Majesty, and a very fashionable accessories line, Era by DJ Zinhle.
And we are certain that this is just the beginning, and she will be hitting us with more. Sis, do we really have the same 24 hours in a day?
We get that breaking out of the comfort zone to start a business can be jarring, as there are so many risks involved. However, you will never know your true business potential if you don’t take the risk. Look to these ZAlebs as an inspiration: they took a leap of faith and it paid off greatly.
