With years of experience in the beauty industry and a qualification in somatology, vocalist, DJ and businesswoman Dudu Ngwenya(32)  known as Lady Du is gearing up to open a hair and beauty salon in the new year. Lady Du, who is very vocal about financial education and constantly giving out advice to her fans and fellow artists on how to make and save money, tells ZiMoja that she cannot wait for the business to start running.

NEW BUSINESS VENTURE 

Her beauty salon named Wawa La Beauty will be opened in Kwa-Thema, Ekurhuleni. "This is one of my New Years' resolutions,' she says. This year, she also plans to open a music school for aspiring artists and musicians. "I'm opening the and eventually making it into a franchise. I'm trying to save up for a music school. Hopefully, I'll make enough to go towards that.' After high school, Lady Du received a bursary from Carnival City to study somatology in London. She spent a year travelling to 108 countries as a somatologist and skin therapist on a cruise ship. Opening her beauty salon was inevitable. "I did somatology for some time and also worked in logistics while pursuing music. I have always been business-minded,' she adds.

HER FAIR SHARE OF STRUGGLES

Lady Du has been making music since the age of nine years old and only received her big break in 2020. Although she is perceived as coming from a privileged home with her dad as well-known RnB DJ Choc, and her uncle DJ Zan D, she has previously opened up about losing everything. After many years of pursuing music and trying her hand at different business ventures, in 2019 when she had almost given up, things started coming together. "I was incredibly depressed. I was unhappy and had quit my joy and my music was not going anywhere. I wanted to take my life,' she says. "I refused to do anything besides music. When the money ran out, I had to sell my house and move into a smaller apartment with my daughter. I got into a car accident and my vehicle was written off. Things were bad.' This is the same year, she overdosed on pills and landed in the hospital. When all seemed to have been lost, she received a life-changing call from Tumelo "Mr JassiQ' Manyoni who introduced her to Amapiano music and they made their singles Dabula and Superstar. She released the songs Dakiwe with DBN Gogo, Seekay, and Busta 929 and the song Catalia with Junior De Rocka, Mr JazziQ, Sleazy and Mellow.