Babes Wodumo accuses DJ Tira of recreating Mampintsha
DJ Tira has found himself at the centre of controversy after fans and Babes Wodumo accused him of trying to recreate the late Mampintsha through his new Afrotainment artist.
The drama unfolded on Babes Wodumo’s reality show Wena Wodumo, where the Gqom queen confronted the Durban music mogul about an artist under his label who reportedly resembles and sounds like her late husband.
Babes, visibly emotional, told Tira that his new signee, known as Captain, reminded her too much of Mampintsha.
“He’s not only inspired by Mampintsha, he is Mampintsha 2.0. You can’t replace someone like that,” she said.
Tira, who was a close friend and collaborator of the late Big Nuz member, appeared calm during the confrontation.
Responding to Babes’ concerns, he said, “Wherever Mandla is, I know that he is happy about this.”
The exchange quickly went viral, with social media users taking Babes’ side.
Many accused Tira of being insensitive and attempting to replicate the successful Babes Wodumo–Mampintsha duo that once dominated the Gqom scene.
On TikTok, clips comparing Captain’s voice and style to Mampintsha’s have circulated widely, fuelling criticism that Tira is “recycling” the late artist’s sound.
One user wrote, “DJ Tira has failed Babes Wodumo by supporting an artist who now sings like Mampintsha,” while another added, “I don’t see DJ Tira stopping his artist from mimicking Mampintsha.”