He’s the guy who turned a TikTok campaign into one of South Africa’s most unforgettable matric dance moments — by getting global superstar Tyla to be his date.
Meet Mollwane Madiba, the young creative whose bold idea captured the internet’s attention and proved that sometimes, all it takes is a big dream, a phone and the courage to put yourself out there.
But beyond the viral videos and the headlines, there’s a young man who describes himself as a perfectionist, a lover of pop culture and a creative with ambitions that stretch far beyond social media.
From exploring the entertainment industry to dreaming of building his own company and showcasing Africa to the world, Mollwane is determined to turn a viral moment into the beginning of something much bigger.
On this edition of The Joburg Reporter’s Creators 100, we chat to with Mollwane Madiba to talk about the power of social media, the pressure of public attention, the importance of betting on yourself and what it means to build a legacy beyond going viral.
Who is Mollwane Madiba beyond the viral videos? What should people know about you?
Mollwane beyond the viral videos is a very creative person who constantly has different ideas and is always looking for something fun to do that fulfills that creative side of him.
I love editing, coming up with concepts and bringing ideas to life. I definitely cannot live without TikTok. I am chronically online and always up to date with the times, especially when it comes to pop culture.
I would also say I am a genuinely funny person who tries to approach life light heartedly. However, when it comes to things I am passionate about, I give it my all.
I am a perfectionist, and I believe that for something to be great, every knot needs to be tied.I pay attention to the little details because I believe they are what makes the biggest difference.
I would also say that I am often misunderstood by the people around me when it comes to what I want to do and achieve, but in a way, that only keeps me going.
I know what I envision for myself, even when other people might not fully understand it yet. There is a lot more to me than what people see online, and I am still figuring out what I want to do with the gift I have been blessed with.
Where are you studying, what are you studying, and why did you choose that field?
I am currently not studying, but I have received offers from a few universities abroad, including institutions in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. I have also applied to universities in the United States, which I hope to attend soon, potentially for the spring intake.
I think it is difficult to put into words exactly what I want to do or become, but I know that whatever it is, I want it to feel like fun every day, to the point where I do not even realise I am studying.
I am definitely drawn to the creative space. I love developing concepts, building ideas from scratch and bringing them to life. Recently, I have also become increasingly interested in the entertainment industry and building a name for myself within it.
Honestly, if I could study myself, I probably would, because I am still figuring out exactly where I want to take everything I have to offer.
How did the idea of getting Tyla to your matric dance come about, and did you ever think it would actually happen?
The idea actually started after Tyla’s pop up in South Africa in 2024, where I got to meet her. A few months later, I had my Grade 11 dance, and because people knew how much I admired her and her craft, they would sarcastically hint that she was going to be my date.
I was trying to be mysterious about it, and I had actually attempted to get her then, but unfortunately, it did not work out. After that, I thought to myself that matric dance was next.
One thing about me is that I have always believed in going big or going home. I felt like no car could really steal the show because we would all have something similar, and no date would necessarily stand out because we would all be arriving with dates from different schools.
I even considered having a helicopter land! But then I thought, what if Tyla was my date?
And honestly, I believed it would happen. I have this gut feeling when I decide to pursue certain things, and it is almost like it comes with its own motivation and drive.
I felt that certainty before I even started the campaign. So, to answer the question, yes, I genuinely believed it could happen. I cannot explain it, but I just knew I had to try.
What was the biggest challenge during the campaign, and how did you handle the doubters?
I would not necessarily say there was one major challenge throughout the campaign. I am quite good at convincing people to get involved in things, so getting people on board was never really an issue. It became something genuinely fun, and every week felt like going back to the drawing board to come up with the next video idea.
As for the doubters, they were never really an issue for me either. One thing I hate is being told that I cannot do something, so if anything, the doubt motivated me to keep going.
I also felt that the most important thing was that I had tried. At the end of the day, closed mouths do not get fed, and I knew I would rather put myself out there and risk failing than spend the rest of my life wondering what could have happened.
Of course, I wanted to prove the doubters wrong, but more importantly, I wanted to prove to myself that I could take an idea that seemed impossible and give it a real chance.
What went through your mind when Tyla actually showed up at your matric dance?
Everyone asks me this, and genuinely speaking, it felt like I was physically there, but mentally, I had blacked out. It was the most incredible feeling, but the emotions leading up to that moment were complicated.
One moment, everyone was staring at me at the dance. Some people seemed happy that they thought I had failed and that I should never have started the campaign in the first place.
Others were laughing, while some genuinely supported me for at least having tried. At that point, I was even questioning myself and wondering why I had put myself through all of it.
Then Tyla walked through the doors.
Everything happened so quickly that I had not even processed what was happening. I was standing there, but my mind had not caught up with reality. Even after she arrived, it took me a while to fully understand that Tyla was actually my date to matric dance and that she was there for me. It was only afterwards that I finally snapped back and thought, damn, Tyla was actually my date!
How has going viral changed your life, and what has it taught you about the power of social media?
I would not necessarily say that it has changed my life completely, but I would say it has given me a platform that I have been working towards for a long time. I have always told the people around me that one day I am going to be a big name, and I see this as a stepping stone towards building that platform.
For me, this is not the end goal. I am grateful for the attention and the opportunities it has created, but I know I can go much further, and I intend to.
The experience has taught me just how powerful social media can be. You can take an idea, package it in a way that captures people’s attention and put it in front of the entire world.
Something that starts with one person and a phone can become a global conversation. It has shown me that sometimes, all you need is a great idea, the courage to put it out there and the ability to get people to believe in it.
The world is much more accessible than we sometimes think, and I believe I am only getting started.
Has the attention ever felt overwhelming, and do you feel pressure to keep creating viral moments?
I have always enjoyed putting myself out there and being involved in different things, so being seen is not entirely new to me. Obviously, though, it is now on a much greater scale than I have experienced before, and I sometimes get recognised in public.
I would say that is probably the most awkward part for me at the moment, especially when I’m with my friends because I never really know how to react, and my friends make me feel shy about it. I am just standing there thinking, what am I supposed to do?
In terms of pressure, I do not feel the need to constantly create viral moments. Like I mentioned, I am quite a perfectionist, and I believe that the things I am working on now, when they are finally ready, will create their own moments because of how much thought and effort I am putting into them.
I would rather take my time and create something I genuinely believe in than put something out simply because I feel I need to stay relevant.
Beyond the Tyla moment, what kind of content creator and personality do you want to become?
I have started describing myself as a master of all traits, mastering each trait one by one, because I genuinely find myself doing anything and everything as long as I enjoy it. I do not want to limit myself to one box or one industry just because that is what people expect of me.
On a corporate level, my ultimate goal is to build my own company, something that challenges the norms of society and approaches business differently. I want to create a space where people genuinely want to work, where we breathe creativity and fun and where we can explore different industries and bring ideas to life. Almost an enterprise of everything, if that makes sense. (Think 100 people in an office on Red bull, with cameras all around, and computers).
Beyond that, I want to become an internationally recognised name who can showcase Africa to the world.
I want to build something that is authentically mine, whether that is through Africa, South Africa, entertainment, business, fashion, creative direction and sustainability or whatever other creative ventures I find myself exploring. Ultimately, I want to create a name and a legacy that goes far beyond social media.
Quick Fire Qs
Last Netflix film or series you watched?
I watch a lot of Netflix, so I have a few. Some of the series and films I have watched recently include A Different World, The Four of Us, Blood Legacy, Why Did I Get Married Again? and Beauty in Black.
Current favourite song, and what does your playlist say about you?
This is such a difficult question because I have so many favourites, but if I had to choose one song that I currently have on repeat, it would be Wo Lo.
I think my playlist reflects the kind of energy I want in my life. Living life to the fullest, being young, having fun and exploring the world. I really love Afro house, Afrobeats and pop. I like music that makes you feel something, whether that is getting ready to go out, motivating you to get your bag, driving somewhere with your friends or simply enjoying life.
Where do you see yourself in five years, and what is the next big dream you want to achieve?
In five years, I see myself in the South of France, living life to the fullest and doing the things I have always envisioned for myself. I see myself having attended the Met Gala, made my fashion week debut, become a well known international figure and hopefully even being on Feeding Starving Celebrities with Quen Blackwell. Most importantly, I see myself finally doing what I love, exploring different industries and building something meaningful for myself.
As for my next dream, I am currently working on a project that is actually a song called S.A.S, which stands for South African Summer.
I am hoping to release it between now and December. And no, I am not announcing that I am becoming a musician! As I said, I am a master of all traits, mastering each trait one by one.
Honestly, I was bored one day and asked friends, what if I made a song? They told me to go for it, and that is how the idea started. The song captures everything that makes South African summer so special: the energy of December, the busyness, the late nights, the beaches and that feeling of everyone coming together to enjoy life.
But S.A.S is not just a song to me. It is a movement. It connects to the creative work I have been developing and forms part of a bigger vision. One of my goals is to use the sound as part of my next campaign, which focuses on Africa’s sustainability. I want the project to be entirely my own, from the sound to the creative direction, rather than relying on someone else’s music to bring the concept to life.
The next part of the campaign would involve school invasions, where I would visit different schools alongside well known figures and bring the experience directly to their communities as a build up to the main event.
The idea is to connect the themes and messages I am building towards each school’s identity, creating something that is not only meaningful but also exciting, engaging and fun for the learners.
For me, it is about combining entertainment, creativity and purpose. I want to show that you can communicate something meaningful without losing the fun, and that is the kind of work I want to keep creating.
Leave a Reply