User:Buntu Manjati

PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY

OF

DINKIE

THE RAP PRIEST

Artist : Dinkie

Genre : Hip-hop

Origin : South Africa

Year/s active : 2015 – Present

Label/s : Bird Ape Studios

Place of birth : Baziya Village

uMtata, Eastern Cape

Birth Name/s : Buntu Manjati

Year of birth : 30 April 1994

Race : Black

Height : 1.74cm

Citizenship : South African

DINKIE is an independent Hip-hop Artist based in the city of Durban, South Africa. He began making music professionally in 2015, after his path for an academic career had proven farfetched. Original name, BUNTU MANJATI, was born in the year 1994, 30 April. He was born in a village called BAZIYA, in the town of UMTATA, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

A last born child of ERNESTINAH MANJATI (mother- late). Growing up with-out a father, artist DINKIE got to learn how to be a man from his older siblings- THULANI MANJATI (late), SABELO MANJATI (35) and SANELE MANJATI (31).

In the year 2009 after the passing of his mother, whom he had lived with for all his life- and dependent upon for everything, DINKIE had to relocate from UMTATA to the city of Durban- thus leaving all his life behind to start a whole new journey. Around this time rapper DINKIE had started the path of writing. Taking his inspiration for the "art of poetry" from the legendary William Shakespeare- whom he had learned about in school. Writing poetry gave "The Rap Priest" a chance to pour out his chest, breathe from the trauma and pain of losing the only parent his ever had.

He earned the title of "The Rap Priest" from the energy he presented, and the style of delivery to his poems. Influences of rap music came from his older brother SANELE also known by his stage name (Sean san) who was a big fan of rappers- 50 Cent, Eminem and Jay Z. He would play their music so much that little DINKIE ended up taking the very same route as he. This also played a major role in the difference to the way DINKIE recited his poetry- more especially when it came to school competitions.

This also granted him the leverage to be unique from the traditional style of reciting poetry- and guaranteed him to win under the category/s of creative writing. It was the year 2010. DINKIE has landed in Durban, and is to live with his older sister, SOMIKAZI MANJATI (42) – NONQABISEKO MANJATI- the first born child of the half a dozen, had died long before DINKIE was even aware to remember. SOMIKAZI ended up having to play the motherly role to her baby brother.

From "Southernwood Junior Secondary School" in UMTATA- to "Wiggins Secondary School" in Durban. The young rapper had to continue and pursue his high school education, to secure a richer future for himself and his family. He finished his matric in "CLAIRWOOD Secondary School" where he met his Physical Science/s teacher Mrs K. SOOBRAMONEY- who saw it her responsibility to intervene when DINKIE's grades started to drop towards the end of his high school year. As the journey had started unplanned, DINKIE's sister SOMIKAZI was the only guardian, and person left to provide for the boys. Things were going well in the beginning, suddenly stopped and went south. This was after she moved to Johannesburg and later lost her job. It opened a big gap for poverty to sink in and strike. She could no longer afford to pay for school fees, rent at home. She could no longer buy food either. It was then that DINKIE took it upon himself to go out and look for a job. He would juggle along with school, a job that would require no work experience or qualification.

Familiar with the hard labour working class in Clare Estate (Durban). DINKIE got a job in construction- that would pay him R70 a day, just to survive, if only for a little while until somebody can come and rescue them. He had to stretch out his hours and try to balance this new found life style. Leading to the outcome of his school grades taking a dip in his matric year. Mrs K. SOOBRAMONEY made it her job to find out the cause- so she would come up with a solution to solve this problem. Knowing her students, DINKIE was a committed and hardworking pupil, it was unlike him to abscond from school like this. She ensured- above all the things that were going on in his life, a chance to finish the year. With an ease to some of his burdens- he was able to study and pass with two distinctions in language and visual arts.

The time came in the year 2015, when all childish games had left the room, life was all too real. No more friends, no more family, no more hopes of studying further and becoming a Physician. Only unpaid bills and empty cupboards- he is left with his nephew SIMAMKELE MANJATI (25) who's still in high school at the time. Music is the only thing left on the table.

DINKIE had now began making music for commercial use.

Working hard labour jobs to save money to record professionally. Here the odds had been assessed and accepted, he would have to learn the ropes through trial and error- operating as a record label and an Artist signed to himself. He released a single called "Songs of the soul featuring Prince Gemini" (his high school friend), produced by FLEX MUSIQUE in the year 2017, it caught the attention of upcoming record label "Pimp Records and Entertainment", that wanted to sign the artist.

The record label began operation the following year 2018 and collaborated with DINKIE on a single- Bringing to the world a song that would go viral and gain the artist a mass number of followers from all across the world. "Put your hands up" produced by TRU HITZ was the first introduction, to the threat that DINKIE would soon become in the hip-hop scene.

His relationship with the label proven, would not last long- as no other music was ever released from the partnership again. This led to the birth of "Bird Ape Culture" and "Bird Ape Studios" where DINKIE, used the knowledge accumulated through the years to personally manage all his music business. From studio and production, to releases, distribution and PR/Marketing. Bringing in producers "SILASBEATS and SIBAH MUSIQ" to the reach of his finger-tips. The character had matured, and understood the ins and outs of the game.

He released the single "Long as I live" featuring KARIN KEDEM from Germany in the year 2021- after the release of "NOBUZELA" produced by SILASBEATS. From this release he would later work with "JEPI STUDIOS" in the video production of the song "Long as I live", and it was released in mid-year 2021. The international feature was followed by the magnanimous release of single "Face my truth" produced by SIBAH MUSIQ. Which went on to play on radio and this added more fuel to the following of the rapper. A whole new window had opened up. He was getting closer to success- DINKIE recognized by a lot of important people, making connections all across the city and conquering the game. He started performing regularly in local clubs, bigger venues and events- promoting his single while at the same time, paving way for his album, which would release officially the following year 2022.

The album was named after the heat-wave single "Face my truth" which resembles a vital side to the life of the artist. "FACE MY TRUTH" Is an album constituting of 10 tracks- and tells the story of DINKIE. From a child, a husband, a father, a men to an independent artist. The term "Face my truth" comes from the point of growth that each and every living man has to go through in life- in order to mature, change and take full control of your life. Getting married to the woman of his dreams Mrs JODIE MANJATI- during the winter season of year 2019. DINKIE had to find a way to balance his social life and his business, to accommodate the passion and appreciate the love. After the birth of his son BONKE MANJATI (whose name comes from the phrase “Nqula Bonke/ Bonke bayonqula yena [xhosa]”,meaning “They shall all worship him”) on the 2nd day of May 2021- he saw it necessary to move his studio up to the CBD in Durban, away from his private life, to create the boundary from the entertainment scene and his family life. Working with CARRELA Films and Director Ray, DINKIE made available to his fans in year 2022 the music video to "Face my truth", a single from the album "FACE MY TRUTH".

Dinkie Face my truth (Official Video) Link.

Associated Act/s:

Lordscript | Pdogg Amazing | Karin Kedem | Mellow Ape | Prince Gemini | Verge The Rapper| Sean san | Trevor King Kong | Flex Musique | SilasBeats | Sibah Musiq | Audiosimz | Tru Hitz. ..

Music and Content:

Artist Name/s : Dinkie

Album/s : 01 Album Title : Face my truth ALBUM ART.

Track List: 01. Face my truth 02:52 min 02. Bus fair 02:49 min 03. Hawema feat. (Lordscript) 02:27 min 04. Live your dream 03:48 05. Mina NgiGhost 03:03 min 06. Locked up inlove 02:17 min 07. My son is born 03:32 min 08. Melodies of my soul 03:22 min 09. When I finally realized 02:45 min 10. Long as I live feat. Karin Kedem (Bonus Track) 04:05 min ALL COPYRIGHTS RESERVED.

DINKIE in Pine str. Durban, CARRELA Film Studios. DINKIE in Pine str. Durban, CARRELA Film Studios. ARTIST BOOKING AND ENQUIRIES:

Contact Management:

Contact Name - Buntu Manjati Contact (Cell/Text) - +27 76 680 7113 EMAIL ADDRESS - Dinkietherappriest@gmail.com