DJ Oskido is a South African recording artist, record producer, disc jockey, and businessman with a net worth estimated at about $2 million (R27 million). Considered to be one of the most influential in the industry, he is also one of the richest.
DJ Oskido is one of the most respected and successful musicians in South Africa who is regarded as the pioneer of the Kwaito genre of music. He has contributed to many successful music stars in the country, including Mafikizolo, Uhuru, and Winnie Khumalo.
The music star made his money from his career in the entertainment industry and from his endorsement deals and the businesses he has to his name. The Church Grooves star has come a long way in his career, having seen a few lows and many highs.
Biography and Quick Profile of DJ Oskido
- Real name: Oscar Bonginkosi Mdlongwa
- Net Worth: $2 million
- Age: 56 Years Old
- Record Label: Kalawa Jazmee Records
- Sources Of Income: Music, Endorsements, Businesses
A Look At The Actual Current Net Worth Of DJ Oskido
As stated, DJ Oskido’s wealth puts him together with the richest musicians in South Africa. He boasts of a net worth of more than $2 million. Born Oscar Bonginkosi Mdlongwa, the ‘King of Kwaito,’ started as a kid by selling boerewors rolls before his career fully blossomed.
Close to three decades in the music business, he has built a legacy in the industry and a great fortune that could see him live a good life for as long as he might live.
He makes money through these means:
- His musical career
- Deal with Universal Music
- Businesses
- Career on radio
- Endorsement deals
He Made His Fortune From Various Means
The net worth of the DJ was not built in a single day, and it was not built through a single means. His fortune was built through combined sources of music, endorsement deals, businesses, and much more.
His Music Label Had A Deal With Universal Music
The DJ and music producer has also made money from a deal he had with Universal Music through his record label, Kalawa. There was an initial report that another company bought the company that Universal had a 51 percent stake in, Tacwise. According to the reports, he cashed out R27 million from the sale of the legendary record label.
However, he soon came out to clarify that he had a deal with Universal Music renewed after every five years. However, he did not reveal the exact worth of the deal, but it is believed to be favorable for him.
Oskido Is Also A Radio Personality
Another way that The Big “O,” as he is also called, makes money is through his radio show on Metro FM, IBelieve. The show runs from 15:00 to 18:00 every Saturday. While the exact amount he makes from this is unknown, it is clear that it has also added some drops to his net worth, considering that he has had radio experience for more than 2 decades.
DJ Oskido Has Many Businesses To His Name
Apart from his music, the South African musician is into several businesses, contributing significantly to his net worth. He has recently started his restaurant, Daruma by Oskido. He stated that he had been in the food business for a long time. Hence, his new restaurant at Waterfall Corner in Midrand was not something new to him.
He is as well the owner of a luxurious apartment, which is situated in Gauteng province. The Airbnb business has many amenities that guests enjoy for R960. Through his music label, Kalawa JazMee, he has made a business from his understanding of music and his talent as a record producer.
He is signed to the record label alongside other big names in the music business such as Mafikizolo, Uhuru, DJ Zinhle, and many others. There are other means through which he is also believed to be making money, including endorsement deals. However, he has not revealed so much in that regard.
A Look At His Humble Beginning In The Music Industry
Mdlongwa has always referred to the fact that he came from a very humble beginning. Born on 23 November 1967, his father, Esaph Mdlongwa, was a Zimbabwean politician, while his mother was Emily Sophia Molefi. The pair met when Esaph came to South Africa to work at the mines. Even though not so much has been revealed about his father, we know that his father has inspired him to understand the value of life. His father died in 2020, after a battle with Covid-19.
When he started music at an early age, it was not easy for him to find a space in the industry. He then decided to volunteer as a DJ for Razzmatazz after the in-house DJ failed to show for work. He took that opportunity to impress the club’s management, and he was made a permanent DJ. Between 1991 and 1995, he released 2 compilations, ‘Mixmaster’ and ‘Big Jam.’ He worked on the songs of others in the studio, using his own beats. This soon got accepted, and it gave him a start to a career that would be successful years later.
After high school, he was back home to run the family business, a supermarket, but he opted to leave it and chase his passion of becoming a musical artist and DJ in Johannesburg.
DJ Oskido Has Had A Good Number of Hits
Oskido was one of the first South African artists to produce and release kwaito tracks, many of which became hits in the country and even beyond. He has released some amazing hit songs in the process. Here are some of the best hits released by Oskido through the years:
- Tembisa Funk- Church Grooves 6 compilation (2007)
- Tsa Ma Ndebele Kids (Featuring Candy)- I Believe Album (2013)
- Y-Tjukuja (Uhuru Featuring Oskido, Professor, and DJ Bucks) (2014)
- Naja (Gqom Remix) together with DJ Maphorisa (Featuring Costa and Zulu) (2017)
- Tribute to Amagrootmaan- Keep The Faith Album (2020)
- Ndoquena (Featuring Toshi)- Akhiwe (2019)
- Keep The Faith (featuring Winnie Khumalo)- Keep The Faith (2020)
Here are the albums released by DJ Oskido
Oskido has released several albums as a solo act and as a member of the Brothers of Peace, with which he released up to 8 albums between 1994 and 2004. As a solo act, he has released five albums between 2012 and 2020. Here are his albums:
- I Believe (2012)
- I Believe Special Edition (2013)
- 50 Degrees (2017)
- Akhiwe (2019)
- Keep The Faith (2020)
He was won several awards, including the following:
- 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards: Special Recognition
- Channel O Music Video Awards: Most Gifted Kwaito- Y-Tjukutja featured by Uhuru (2014)
- MTV Africa Music Award: Best Collaboration- Y-Tjukutja (2014)
- South African Music Award: Best Remix of the Year- Tsa Ma Ndebele (2014)
- 13th Metro FM Music Awards- Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)
This Is How He Enjoys The Money He Makes
Oskido has always been a very modest man, even with all the wealth he has accumulated from his sheer hard work, determination, and talent. Hence, he does not display his wealth as many other successful stars would.
That said, he spends his money on the good things of life, including luxury cars and an expensive home. In his garage, he has some cars, but the ones we know are Bentley and a Mercedez Benz S-class. He spent millions of rand in acquiring the two cars.
He is believed to have a beautiful and expensive home, but he has not revealed anything about the house. He was reported to have rejected the request of journalists to take a photo of the house after they complimented the property because, according to him, he doesn’t like to brag.