Andile "Ace Julz" Mabuza
Musician/Producer/Composer
Musician | Rapper | Singer | Songwriter | Music Producer | Voice Over Artist | Performing Artist | MC/Program Director
Skills & Tools
- SongwritingSongwriting
- Beat ComposingBeat Composing
- SingingSinging
- RappingRapping
- Live PerformingLive Performing
About Me
Andile Mabuza dubbed “Ace Julz” based in Eswatini’s is a multi-talented rapper, singer, songwriter & producer. He is the founder of Emalangeni Music Group who uses his platform to teach foundational knowledge to selected musicians through. He started making music in 2013 & rose to prominence with his mind-blowing performance at the MTN Bushfire Firefly grand finale in 2025 where he won and which earned himself a spot on the top 3 of the competition. He kept soaring after that by getting the opportunity to have an Honest Conversation with Black Coffee twice (2024 & 2025) through the invitation from the Black Coffee Foundation.
In 2023 he was among a cohort of creatives who were participating on an accelerator program called the "Vukubone Sound Lab" implemented by Music In Africa & the Goethe Institut. He went on to be part of another cohort for Ensha Catalyse implemented by Ludziwo Arts Foundation which taught him about ideation, proposal writing & branding.
His work has been showcased on platforms such as Btv Flava Dome, Alliance Francaise de Mbabane, MTN Bushfire Festival, Echoes Of The Wild Botswana, Eswatini Theater Club. Ace Julz has also worked as an MC/Program Director for MTN Eswatini as well as MTN Bushfire firefly Talent search competition.
He is one of the most promising musicians in Eswatini because of his indisputable talent, compelling stage presence, and uncompromising dedication to his craft. He is certain to make a lasting impression in the music business for years to come as he keeps pushing the envelope of individual expression, storytelling and the cross cultural nature of music.
Work Experience
2017 - present
Independent Artist, Songwriter & Producer
Self-Employed
Write, produce and perform original music blending siSwati language and rhythm with contemporary hip-hop and soul production
Released projects including the mixtape Outta My System and singles such as "For The Kulture" "Mama Tsemba Mine" and the tribute track "Bholoja" (feat. Lyrikal Busta & Jay La Dess)
Built an independent audience of 21.28K+ followers and 500K+ views across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook
Secured radio airplay on Metro FM, 5FM, Ligwalagwala FM, Ligwa FM, Mkhondo FM and Hip Hop Africa Radio
Secured TV Interviews on BTV Flava Dome & Eswatini TV
2024 - present
Founder & Mentor of Emalangeni Music Group
Emalangeni Music Group
-Founded and lead a collective of Eswatini-based musicians built around shared songwriting, production and performance
-Teach foundational music recording skills, & PR strategies to selected emerging artists
-Co-produce the Monthly Rap Report with KrTC of Hip Hop, a recurring series covering hip-hop developments across Eswatini, the region, the continent & globally
2023
Vukubone Sound Lab Graduate
-VUKUBONE Sound Lab Accelerator Program, Sound Connects Fund (EU/ACP-EU Culture Programme, implemented by Music In Africa & Goethe-Institut)
-Completed an EU-funded accelerator program for emerging sound artists, covering production, sound design and industry practice
2024 - present
Live Performances
1. MTN Bushfire Festival (2023, 2025 & 2026)
2. EU Bushfire Highschool Festival (2026)
3. Echoes Of The Wild Botswana (2026)
4. Kwaluseni MTN Carnival Kick Off (2026)
5. Alliance Francaise de Mbabane (2023 & 2026)
6. America 250 at Eswatini Theater Club (2026)
7. MTN Bushfire Firefly Winner (2025)
8. Mr & Miss Siphocosini Inkhundla, became First Prince (2026)
9. Tedx Talk Gwamile Street (2024)
10. Spirit Of Hip Hop (2024)
2026
MC/ Program Director
MTN Eswatini
-Co-hosted the MTN Bushfire firefly talent search with Bello Nkosi
-Program Directed the MTN Bushfire firefly top 10 reveal at the Eswatini MTN headquarters
2026
Goethe-Institut Fellow (Not Employed) — AEPC Entanglement Workshops
Goethe Institute
-Selected to join a week-long, EU-funded cross-border workshop bringing together creative practitioners from across the SADC region
-Worked on preserving and reactivating indigenous heritage narratives through contemporary artistic practice
-Built ongoing working relationships with Botswana-based artists SCAR, Dintle On The Track, Thomas Chilume, Tribal Tiido and Mothla
- Collaborated with Legodile "Dredd X" Seganabeng on a song (Founder of Poetavango Collective)
Music & Business Workshop Participant
1. Music Creatives Conference, Redamancy · 2023
2. EIPO IP Runway Workshop
3. EIPO IP's got Game workshop
4. Honest Conversation with Black Coffee - Black Coffee Foundation (2024 & 2025)
5. Global Cooperation & Training Framework - Digitl Entrepreneurship for Youth & MSMEs
6. Unlock Summit - with keynote speaker Vusi Thembekwayo
7. Voices of a Nation - Konshens The MC
8. Ensha Catalyse - Ludziwo Arts Foundation
9.MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table (2023, 2025, 2026)
Selected Work
2025 MTN Bushfire Firefly Performance
Ace Julz Dilivers a high energy performance, the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
He showcases his versatility through rapping, production, singing & dancing.
Mama Tsemba Mine (Live Performance)
Mama Tsemba Mine is a siSwati spiritual and emotionally invested song inspired by a mother's love. With a captivating blend of smooth trap sounds & emotional melodies, interpreted by a full live band to create a live experience.
The Monthly Rap Report
The Rap Report is a news bulletin report I collaborated with KrTC Of Hip Hop which uses Hip Hop to further spread headlines in a more consumable fashion. This is the March Rap Report
Voice Of A Nation Poetry Workshop (2026)
This Project is about using words to paint vivid pictures. It was facilitated by Konshens The MC
Saw'bona Africa (Unfinished Poetavango Collective Project)
A musical project I led during a session that was initiated on the last day of the Entanglement Workshops Week in Botswana. Legodile(Dredd X) & Anthony invited Desmond who is a guitarist to work with us on existing and new music.
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Certifications
Vukubone Sound Lab Accelerator Program
Redamancy Certificate Of Attendance
Newspaper Articles
