The Queen of Gqom has risen again. After a quiet period marked by immense personal loss, Babes Wodumo is stepping back into her throne with Mabheshingo, a bold, heartfelt EP set for release on Friday, 17 October 2025.
Please note that the new release date is now Friday, 24 October 2025
This project isn’t just a musical return; it’s a reclamation of legacy, love, and power. It’s the sound of an artist rediscovering her voice after silence and reminding the world why that voice defined a generation of South African dance music.
A Return Rooted in Healing
Following the passing of her life partner and long-time collaborator, Mampintsha, Babes took time away from the spotlight to grieve, reflect, and rebuild. Now, with Mabheshingo, she channels that emotional journey into sound.
“I took time to reflect on the events that happened in my life,” she says. “This new work is dedicated to him, to the people of South Africa, and to the world. Thank you for the love and support.” That gratitude is the heartbeat of the record, woven through its rhythm, its collaborations, and its emotion.
Gqom Reignited
In the lead-up to the full EP, Babes dropped three new singles on 3 October 2025:
- “Sip n See” featuring Madanon, Jay Music, Don Edward, Frost, SK, and Sundile.
- “Ekhoneni” — a joint creation with Lelowhatsgood and Rifle Deep.
- “Ngakuthanda Kahulu” — a surprise Maskandi track featuring UshuniWasemzini.
The first two tracks are explosive reminders of why Babes still owns the Gqom lane: layered basslines, chant-style vocals, and high-energy drops that feel built for the dancefloor. But it’s Ngakuthanda Kahulu that turns heads, a soulful pivot into Maskandi that reveals a softer, more reflective side of Babes, one that’s still deeply rooted in her culture. Together, the singles form a statement: Babes isn’t returning to the sound she left behind, she’s evolving it.
The Song Camp That Sparked It All
The genesis of Mabheshingo traces back to a Content Connect Africa song camp held in August, where Babes collaborated with some of the scene’s freshest talents. That creative space reawakened her artistry and shaped the EP into what it is now and a collective expression of Gqom’s next era. The camp wasn’t just about beats and lyrics; it was about reimagining the identity of a genre that Babes helped build from the ground up.
A Legacy Reclaimed
Since her meteoric rise in 2015 with Wololo, Babes Wodumo has remained one of South Africa’s most magnetic performers. From topping charts to featuring on the Black Panther soundtrack, her energy has defined how the world hears Durban’s pulse.
With Mabheshingo, Babes reconnects that past to her present, honoring Mampintsha’s legacy, embracing her own evolution, and reclaiming her space as a cultural matriarch of Gqom. Her story is no longer just about hits; it’s about healing, heritage, and the courage to begin again.
A New Era for Gqom
Babes Wodumo’s return doesn’t just close a chapter — it opens a new one for the genre she helped globalize. In an age where Amapiano dominates the airwaves, Mabheshingo reminds listeners that Gqom is still alive, still loud, and still led by its Queen.
Her comeback is a reminder of what makes South African sound so powerful: its ability to evolve, endure, and echo the emotions of its people. The throne was never empty, it was waiting. And Babes Wodumo, once again, will sit on it.
Mabheshingo drops 17 October 2025 on all major platforms. Stream the lead singles now: “Sip n See,” “Ekhoneni,” and “Ngakuthanda Kahulu.”
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