What began as a nickname given to Sipho Makhabane by a friend has grown into a name that has become synonymous with his music career.
Speaking on the latest episode of the 5 Questions podcast, Makhabane revealed that the name ‘Big Fish’ was given to him by Mabhoyane Mamba.
Makhabane explained that the nickname came at a time when he was discovering and working with several gospel artists, including Shongwe and Khuphuka Saved Group, Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors, Frans Dlamini and Siphofaneni Born Again.
According to Makhabane, Mamba was involved in TV production and interviewing artists but found it difficult to access them without his involvement.
Makhabane explained that whenever Mamba wanted to interview or record the artists he had produced, the artists would first contact him to confirm whether they could proceed.
Seeing that Makhabane was the person who could easily grant him access to the artists, Mamba began referring to him as the ‘Big Fish’.
“He decided to call me the ‘Big Fish’,” Makhabane said, explaining that the name reflected his position as the person through whom Mamba could gain access to the other artists.
Rather than dismissing the unusual nickname, Makhabane saw an opportunity in it.
“When I heard the name, I took it serious and said let me take that name and use it,” he said.
According to Makhabane, the name eventually became more than just a nickname.
He said it became so strongly associated with him that people now recognise him more readily as ‘Big Fish’ than by his birth name.
He subsequently registered his various business ventures under the name, including Big Fish Arts, Big Fish Records, Big Fish Music and Big Fish Entertainment.
The name has followed him throughout his career as a musician, producer, songwriter and music entrepreneur.
Makhabane said his long career in gospel music had seen him work with numerous artists locally and across the region, eventually earning several lifetime achievement awards, including a South African Music Award.
He stated that he believed the name had become part of the legacy he had built in the music industry.
For Makhabane, what started as Mamba’s playful description of his influence over artists became a brand that would eventually stand on its own.
Today, ‘Big Fish’ is not simply a nickname but the identity behind the music businesses and career of one of the region’s longstanding gospel music figures.’
‘BIG FISH’ NAMES HIS GOSPEL HEAVYWEIGHTS
After decades of discovering and producing gospel musicians, Sipho ‘Big Fish’ Makhabane has identified three artists who stand above the rest in his long list of collaborations.
Speaking on the latest episode of the 5 Questions podcast, Makhabane named Shongwe and Khuphuka Saved Group, Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors and Hlengiwe Mhlaba as the three artists he ranked highest among those he had worked with.
“It is a hard one. But I have to go with those three. They are in competition,” he said.
Makhabane described the three as his international stars, while revealing that Hlengiwe Mhlaba topped the trio in terms of sales, followed by Ncandweni.
The three artists occupy an important place in Makhabane’s production history, having worked with him during different stages of his career.
Shongwe and Khuphuka were among the first artists Makhabane produced which was then based at Tiger City, in Manzini. His work later extended to Ncandweni, Khuzizono, Frans Dlamini, Hlengiwe Mhlaba and several other gospel acts.
Makhabane said his success as a producer was largely connected to his ability to recognise talent.
He said he believed having a good ear for music helped him identify artists with qualities that could connect with audiences.
“I am not someone with the best voice, I have tricks to use the voice I have. God has blessed me with an ear to hear a good singer, a good voice, that is why I was able to discover all these musicians,” he said.
He singled out Shongwe as an example of an artist whose success was not necessarily dependent on having the strongest voice.
“Shongwe does not have the best voice either but he has got that hush-toned voice and God’s favour,” Makhabane said.
For Makhabane, the success of artists such as Shongwe, Ncandweni and Hlengiwe was not only a reflection of their individual talent, but also proof of what can happen when emerging artists are discovered and given an opportunity.
