Multi-hyphenated media powerhouse, Relebogile Mabotja, has chosen to mark the milestone of her 40th birthday in the most unexpected way: with the surprise release of her debut EP Still Me. Known to many as a celebrated broadcaster, producer and powerhouse of South African entertainment, Relebogile Mabotja now reveals a deeply personal side of her artistry.
For years, the music lived quietly with her; unfinished melodies, voice notes stored on her phone, fragments of songs shaped during late nights in lockdown. It was never meant for the world, only for herself. But with the constant encouragement of her radio listeners, who urged her to release music before reaching this new chapter of her life, she reached into the archives. What emerged is not a polished statement of perfection, but a vulnerable offering: a reminder that beginnings can arrive at any age, and that artistry is sometimes less about arrival and more about courage.
Still Me does not seek to compete with the accolades of her two-decade career in broadcasting, production, and media. Instead, it stands beside them. An imperfect yet honest creation, one that may be just the beginning of a new chapter where Relebogile Mabotja allows herself to pursue music with the same seriousness that has defined her other achievements.
The EP is a soulful tapestry woven with touches of jazz, R&B and gospel. It was born in the stillness of 2020, when the world slowed, and she was compelled to capture the melodies and words that had been quietly forming within her for years. Recorded with producer Chad Alexander and featuring a powerful collaboration with RJ Benjamin, the five-track project carries a spirit both intimate and expansive. From the vulnerable title track “Still Me,” to the anthemic “I Feel Nothing,” the aching hope of “I’ll Find My Way,” the tender love song “You’re the Only One,” and the moving “Mmamogoai’s Prayer” – a medley honouring her late grandmother – the EP reveals a woman unafraid of showing both strength and fragility.
Relebogile Mabotja describes the process as liberating, a way of reclaiming parts of herself that had long been hidden behind the many roles she has carried. “This project is for me,” she reflects. “But I hope those who’ve followed my journey, and those discovering me now, find pieces of themselves in it too. The music will live, and it will find its people. And that’s what excites me the most”.
Releasing her first body of work as she celebrates her 40th birthday, Relebogile Mabotja frames the EP as both a milestone and a message. It is a reminder that artistry has no deadline, that creativity is not diminished by time, and that reinvention is simply another way of remaining true to oneself. As the world hears Still Me for the first time, Relebogile Mabotja emerges not only as a multi-hyphenate powerhouse but as an artist fully claiming her voice at last.
Listen to Still Me here: https://ditto.fm/still-me-relebogile-mabotja
Connect with Relebogile Mabotja:
Facebook: Relebogile Mabotja
X: @RelebogileM
Instagram: @relebogile
TikTok: @relebogilemabotja
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@relebogilemabotja215
