South African Singer Becomes Breakout Hit in China
What started as a TikTok joke has transformed into a remarkable journey for South African vocalist Motswedi Modiba. The 26-year-old singer, now known by her stage name MOE, has become a sensation in China’s music scene after impressing millions with her Mandarin performance on one of the country’s biggest reality TV shows, “Sing! China.”
As reported by South African media, Modiba took the stage on “Sing! China” as the first Black and African contestant, performing a Mandarin cover of Karen Mok’s ballad “Love.” The show, currently in its eighth season, follows a format similar to “The Voice,” where initial rounds are judged blindly.
Modiba’s remarkable rendition caught the attention of two out of four judges, propelling her to the next round. She subsequently chose singer, rapper, and actor Wilber Pan as her mentor for the upcoming stages of the competition.
Her appearance on the show ignited a surge of excitement on Chinese social media platforms, with music bloggers and fans praising her incredible talent. Radio Utopia, a renowned music blogger on Weibo, wrote, “How could Motswedi sing so well?” The hashtag “I cannot compete with Motswedi” trended, quoting a comment made by competition judge Joker Xue.
Despite her sudden fame, Modiba’s journey has been years in the making. Born in Tshwane, South Africa, she attended the Pretoria Chinese School, where she learned Mandarin from the age of six to 18. Winning the national category of the Chinese Bridge Competition during high school led her to secure a scholarship to study Chinese language and literature at Yunnan Normal University in Kunming, China.
She pursued her passion for music, participating in small-scale singing competitions in China while studying at Yunnan Normal University. In 2022, she launched her music career in South Africa under the name MOE with her debut single “It Was A Vibe,” which earned her a Metro FM Music Award.
Modiba’s journey to “Sing! China” began with a TikTok video she posted on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) that unexpectedly went viral. Producers of the show reached out to her, leading to her decision to audition in China. She is now one of the few African artists making a mark in the Mandopop (Mandarin pop music) scene.
With a growing fan base of over 250,000 followers on Douyin, Modiba aspires to reach audiences worldwide while embracing her South African heritage. She aims to incorporate elements of her culture into her performances, whether through costume, language, or music, showcasing her pride in her African roots.
As she progresses through “Sing! China,” Modiba’s boundary-breaking journey continues to inspire and captivate audiences not only in China but around the world.
