More and more South African celebrities are venturing into businesses outside of the entertainment industry and are learning the art of diversifying and finding other streams of income. Maskandi artists are not being left behind. Singer Khuzani Mpungose first launched his fragrance line, produced in collaboration with LiquidDope Fragrances, a black-owned company based in Boksburg on the East Rand.

The Ijele singer has now also launched a range of energy drinks range, branded Khuzani Inkosi kaMaskandi and Khuba.

HIS FIRST BUSINESS

Khuzani first came up with the fragrance line idea which he launched in 2019. "The perfume has done really well. We have for both men and women." He was involved in the process of creating the scents. "I was very hands-on in helping to build the scents," Khuzani says, adding that as artists it is important to be diverse. "I use my music platform to also help me get into other business ventures," he says. He plans to further add other products such as lotions and soaps.

NEW BUSINESS VENTURE

Khuzani tells ZiMoja that he created Khuzani Inkosi kaMaskandi and Khuba for his fans whom he calls, the Blue Nation. "My following knows that I always come up with new ideas to grow the brand," he says. "I am a businessman and don't only rely on music to take care of my family and my team," Khuzani says he has just started with the new business ideas and he has more in store. "We are not done. I want when I am old and can no longer perform on stage, to have something to fall back on and multiple businesses. The music industry is not sustainable, and you can be here today and gone tomorrow. We don't want to die poor as celebrities," he concludes.