PUMA Presents Yoza Mnyanda and Gigi Lamayne
Cape Town, South Africa — 5 August 2021 — PUMA South Africa is bringing two distinctive voices from South Africa’s creative scene into its PUMA Select Stories and Select Sessions platforms, with filmmaker and musician Yoza Mnyanda and rapper, singer and songwriter Gigi Lamayne taking centre stage.
Fans can tune into @pumasouthafrica on Instagram on Friday, 6 August at 10am, when Yoza Mnyanda joins PUMA Select Stories host Frypan Mfula for a conversation around her creative journey.
Later in the month, Gigi Lamayne will take over the PUMA Select Sessions stage for a live performance on Thursday, 26 August at 6pm.
Yoza Mnyanda
Director, editor, musician and performer, Yoza Mnyanda has built a creative career that moves comfortably between music, film and visual storytelling.
Growing up in the Eastern Cape, Mnyanda was introduced to South African music from an early age. Her parents exposed her to artists including Steve Kekana and Brenda Fassie, influences that would later inform her own creative work.
After beginning to create music herself, Mnyanda developed a sound and artistic identity influenced by some of South Africa’s most distinctive musical traditions.
Her journey also took her beyond South Africa at an early age. After being discovered through YouTube, she gained international exposure before choosing to return home and focus on developing her own creative work in South Africa.
Mnyanda later completed a degree in Screen Production at the University of Cape Town, further developing the visual side of her creative practice.
She subsequently joined forces with her partner to form Darkie Fiction, a creative duo whose music draws from a broad mix of Kwaito, Afro-funk, neo-soul and hip-hop.
Her work reflects the increasingly blurred boundaries between music, film, fashion and visual culture — a space that has become central to the new generation of South African creatives.
Gigi Lamayne
Gigi Lamayne, born Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney, is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, poet and entrepreneur known for her lyrical ability and commanding stage presence.
Over the course of her career, Lamayne has established herself as one of the country’s recognisable hip-hop voices, while continuing to explore different sides of her artistry.
Her catalogue includes tracks such as “1 Bar,” “Ice Cream” and “Lobola”, while collaborations across music and culture have expanded her audience beyond traditional hip-hop spaces.
Lamayne’s writing frequently draws from personal experiences, giving her music a strong autobiographical quality while allowing her to address wider themes relevant to her audience.
Her versatility as both an artist and businesswoman has also made her part of a generation of South African creatives building careers beyond a single discipline.
PUMA Select Stories Meets PUMA Select Sessions
The appearances form part of PUMA South Africa’s broader PUMA Select platform, which connects the brand with artists, designers, musicians and other creatives shaping contemporary culture.
Mnyanda’s conversation with Frypan Mfula offers audiences an opportunity to hear more about her creative journey and influences, while Lamayne’s Select Sessions performance puts the focus directly on her music and live performance.
Together, the two appearances highlight different sides of South Africa’s creative landscape — from visual storytelling and independent music to hip-hop and live performance.
Follow the Artists and PUMA South Africa
Follow @pumasouthafrica, @gigi_lamayne, @onlylonelyblade and @sheisyoza for updates.
