Old Mutual On The Money
Old Mutual On The Money
Yanga Sobetwa on Winning SA Idols and Managing Money
Songstress Yanga Sobetwa was only 17 when she won SA Idols. While her prize money was life-changing, it was a lot of financial responsibility at such a young age. John Manyike, our Head of Financial Education, sat with Yanga to discuss how she dealt with this sudden cash windfall, how she has evolved, the impact of ‘black tax’ on young South Africans and much more.
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Old Mutual 00:00
Welcome to the On The Money Podcast with John Manyike.
John Manyike 00:04
Hello, Yanga.
Yanga Sobetwa 00:05
Hi.
John Manyike 00:06
How are you?
Yanga Sobetwa 00:07
I'm good. How are you?
John Manyike 00:08
Good, good. I'm glad you could join us.
Yanga Sobetwa 00:10
It's a pleasure. Thank you so much for having me.
John Manyike 00:12
The last time I saw you, you were not this tall. But I won’t double click.
Yanga Sobetwa 00:16
It’s TV, you're on TV. I'm sure you understand what happens when you're on TV [laughs]. I get this every single time from people who've never met me. Every time they meet me, like, "you're so tiny, you’re so small". It's TV.
John Manyike 00:32
True. So, tell me more about yourself. Where you come from, where you grew up, where you went to school?
Yanga Sobetwa 00:38
I am 21 years old, turning 22 this year. Born in 2001. So, I am a 2000.
John Manyike 00:44
Yeah.
Yanga Sobetwa 00:45
Even if people think I am not, I’m a 2000. I’m proud to be a 2000. And I'm repping the 2000s really well, I think.
John Manyike 00:52
Wow.
Yanga Sobetwa 00:53
So, I grew up in Cape Town. Born and bred in Cape Town, called KwaLanga. That's where I was born. And then I grew up between Khayalitsha and Delft, and Mfuleni at some point of my life. I come from a Christian family, going to church every Sunday. And I think they really led me to Christ and where I am now.
John Manyike 01:13
Okay. So you've always been a singing... I don't know what to call it, a singing girl.
Yanga Sobetwa 01:18
I've always been interested in music. It's always been something that attracted me. I was actually talking to a friend of mine. I was like, because she was singing at home. And I was like, “No, you can actually sing” but like, even though you don't think that you were born with the talent, it doesn't necessarily mean that you need to be born with the talent in order for you to be able to sing. So, for me, I had the potential, I guess. And then it just interested me and I also like, dabbled into it. I grew up listening to the likes of Joyous Celebration, Ntokozo Mbambo. I mean, I would watch every single lead that she's like that she sings, pause, and make sure that I sing it to the T, exactly the way that she'd sing it. Like with the same vibrato, with the same styles. And like I was very intentional about my musical journey. I joined the worship team at some point. In high school, I was very forward because I just loved this music thing. When we had festivals at school, I would offer to sing, and I'd bring my own band. The school is not paying me. But I would offer to like, you know what, I'll give these people money. Where do I get the money?
John Manyike 02:21
Yeah.
Yanga Sobetwa 02:25
I don’t have the money.
John Manyike 02:25
[Laughs[ Yeah.
Yanga Sobetwa 02:25
I didn't have the money. But because of the musical interest and what God had planted inside of me that had to come out. It was just inevitable.
John Manyike 02:34
So, when did you discover that you, this thing of singing is bigger than you thought?
Yanga Sobetwa 02:38
I think when I went to Idols.
John Manyike 02:39
Okay.
Yanga Sobetwa 02:40
For me, it was about the experience. We grew up watching Idols at home. And the year that I was inspired to go like the year that I got triggered really to go was when Loyiso Gijana was on the show. So at the time, he was 16. And for me, I was like, “No, man, if this guy can do it, surely I can also do it.” So, I entered and it was very, very exciting for me. In fact, when I won Idols is when I discovered that people actually take me seriously. Because I'm like, why are you guys voting for me? I'm just singing, it's not that big of a deal. I know I'm good, but like, not like Beyoncé, good but it turned out I am like Beyoncé good.
John Manyike 03:18
And destiny's calling, you know?
Yanga Sobetwa 03:19
Yeah.
John Manyike 03:20
But did you know that you were going to win or did you have aspirations to win or you were just entering for the final?
Yanga Sobetwa 03:25
I was just there for the experience honestly. Now, when I saw Loyiso Gijana on TV performing, for me, it was like, you know, at the time, I never really got the experience to sing like on a professional stage, with BVs, with the lights with the band. And for me, just like just carrying the musical arrangements, the BVS, the vocals, like everything for me, I was like, “Okay, that's what I want”. I was actually chasing after that, not everything else. I was actually quite shocked that “Okay, now, my privacy is taken away. Everyone is interested in my life, we just keep the interest to the voice.” But obviously, because the spotlight is the spotlight, I do know what I was signing up for.
John Manyike 04:05
How did you handle the fame?
Yanga Sobetwa 04:07
I think having a family, like a Christian family, kept me really grounded. And all the teachings that I had, because, I'm a serious church girl. Every Bible study, I'd be there, every prayer meeting, I'll be there too. I had a very good foundation and understanding of who I am. I understood that what I do is not who I am. So, the moment that I had an achievement, it didn't necessarily define me, my identity is in Christ and that's it. So, for me that really like you know, grounded me on top of that, and a family who had always taught me to go in the ways of the Lord. So, for me, like just them reminding, hey young lady. And my mom also like she didn't want me to go. I think that's one of the things, like, it's a blessing and disguise, that she didn't want me to go because it kind of like made her as the person who was protective. And she was playing a role of being protective and just like reminding me who you are, because for her, as much as she was dramatic about it, that this is Idols and there are demons here. Why are you idolizing, what is this Idol thing? God is God. You can’t be idolizing. You know, like it was extreme. But I understood where she was coming from. So, that really kept me you know, grounded.
John Manyike 05:21
You were the youngest person to win Idols at the age of 17.
Yanga Sobetwa 05:25
No, that’s actually incorrect. Paxton was the youngest person who won.
John Manyike 05:27
How old was she?
Yanga Sobetwa 05:28
She was 17. But like, she’s younger than me by a couple of months.
John Manyike 05:32
But you’re also 17?
Yanga Sobetwa 05:33
Yeah, but I was 17 earlier, she was 17 later, which made her more 17. I don’t know if that makes sense.
John Manyike 05:40
But you were young. I mean, you still are. But I'm just saying, I mean, at the age of 17 with that kind of spotlight. What are some of your fondest memories about winning?
Yanga Sobetwa 05:51
I think, getting the recognition. I don't necessarily need it. But I wanted it, it's great to know that like people who have been in the industry and pioneers of what you want to do, approve, I don't know if that makes sense. And seeing people who wanted to write music with me, seeing artists who were interested in me. That for me, it was like really inspiring, and seeing the impact that my performances, those were the fulfilling moments for me, um, and seeing how I was inspiring my peers, to go for their dreams, and to not be intimidated, and to be courageous and just like go for what they want.
John Manyike 06:30
You became a millionaire at the age of 17.
Yanga Sobetwa 06:34
Here we go now [laughs].
John Manyike 06:39
How did that make you feel? I mean, you just became a youngest millionaire, probably in your family.
Yanga Sobetwa 06:44
Definitely.
John Manyike 06:46
What was going through your mind?
Yanga Sobetwa 06:48
You know, I took a long time to actually understand what happened to me.
John Manyike 06:52
Okay.
Yanga Sobetwa 06:52
Even when I won, like I didn't really have the reaction that I was supposed to have. Because I think a part of me already was excited and already thanked God and already, I don't know, went through those emotions at some point before I entered competition. So, when I, like it was difficult to align that moment with my emotions, and understanding what had happened. And eventually, like when I saw people bombarding me at the airport, at malls and I was like, so. Okay, so I won Idols. [Laughs] So now, people asking me to fund their school things, and I'm like…
John Manyike 07:28
Loan applications?
Yanga Sobetwa 07:30
Yeah, even now, I still get that. I'm like, I'm not a millionaire anymore. I’m not, maybe I am in Christ. But no, I'm not a millionaire right now. And the money came in a year later, because I requested for it a year later.
John Manyike 07:46
Why did you ask for the money to come a year late?
Yanga Sobetwa 07:48
I wanted to know exactly what I wanted to do with the money, right. Because I didn't want to be wishy-washy, and in the meantime, spend money on things that I hadn't necessarily planned. Money is there to be spent. But also I wanted to be intentional about what I was doing with the money.
John Manyike 08:04
You know what, that is loaded. That's a lot of wisdom there. That's a lot of wisdom. For somebody to say, “Yes, I know I’ve won a million. Don't pay me now. Pay me a year later, I'm still thinking about what I'm gonna do with this money.” Who influenced your financial values or principles or decisions around it?
Yanga Sobetwa 08:21
I think it's completely the grace of God. Because I haven't seen the best money management from people around me either. Honestly, I don't know where I can say I got that from. But the Bible also has like a lot of advice when it comes to managing your finances and being intentional about everything that you do. So, just like, knowing that I cannot live my life anyhow. Because this life is borrowed, and there's a purpose that I have to fulfill in my life. So, every decision that I make every, every, I don't know, idea that I have need to be intentional about it. And I need to be a good steward of what God has given me. So, for me, like even that reward of a million Rands, I knew that a million might sound like a lot, but it wasn't necessarily a lot, because after I got a property, and after I got furniture into the property, it was not there anymore. It is literally not there anymore. I think the only thing I did besides like buying a property and it was like, I did tours at the time was just before Covid. I did like two tours, and I wanted to like tour the entire nation, but I couldn't because after that like after the second concert in Eastern Cape, Covid hit us. Besides that, like I bought myself a phone, and I bought a camera. I don't remember anything else that I did with that money.
John Manyike 09:35
How did your family feel with you making a decision that? Yes, I've won a million from this singing competition. I don't want it now. I want it later so that I can gather my thoughts about what I need to do with this money. Did you get some resistance?
Yanga Sobetwa 09:49
I'm not sure if there was resistance. If there was, I think it was internal. What I do know, there was a lot of like, disagreement with my mom and I, when it came to managing my finances. And for me, I was like, confused, and I'm like, “Mama, you didn't want me to enter the competition. Let's start there.” So, now when you saw that things are working out, now you're jumping on the wagon, and now you want to manage my finances when you've never managed my finances before.
John Manyike 10:14
But you didn’t have finances before?
Yanga Sobetwa 10:15
I did.
John Manyike 10:17
How, what, pocket money?
Yanga Sobetwa 10:22
I did. I was a tutor at some point. I've always been like savvy, street savvy trying to do my own thing. I've always been an independent child, even my parents knew. So, for me like now when you want to like be a helicopter parent, on the money, but you don't want me to go to the competition that gave me the money. What are you saying to me?
John Manyike 10:43
But then was she not trying to be protective as a mother?
Yanga Sobetwa 10:46
She was. My mom was always protective, just like generally. But like, now I felt like, you want my bank statements? You want, “No, I’m not doing that.” We got into a huge fight about that. She even kicked me out. She kicked me out, and then she called me back the same day.
John Manyike 11:04
I mean, she’s a mother.
Yanga Sobetwa 11:05
It was crazy. But eventually we got to an understanding and I was like, “Mama, I need you to trust the values that you've instilled in me. I need you to trust your teachings about me”. And when you see that, what she’s doing is going to hurt her in the end, then allow the natural consequences to happen. Because I'm always, I think I've proven myself just growing up.
John Manyike 11:29
Do you think these are the type of challenges that young people find themselves in when they start earning money early in life, or with their parents?
Yanga Sobetwa 11:38
I've had a couple of interactions with people where a person’s mother knows when their pay day is, and on that day, they call early in the morning, I've had a sleepover with a friend. And the mom was calling in the AM’s. And she does this every time, every pay day, the AMs, “Hi, my child, how are you”? I’m like, “Dude, why are parents like this?” I just hope I'm not the parent. I really hope I'm not the parent. My parents also, we had a time where my mom was like, “Okay, I want a certain amount of money from you, every time you get paid.” Black Tax, yeah, a typical black tax situation. And at the time, I think I had a voice but I feel like I stretched like already. Well, because we already had that misunderstanding, well, not misunderstanding, by like disagreement, when it comes to how I'm gonna spend my money, her wanting access to my bank statements, and whatnot. So, I was like, “Hey, let me let things breathe a little bit”. I’ll give you the money. I was like, I'll give it like, 2000 every gig that I've got gotten at the time, and at the time my gigs were, like, coming in. And my fee was just like, people were not negotiating, they were giving me exactly the fee. Because gigs are coming in so frequently. So, then at some point, I was like, “Mama, let's sit down my love. I don't think this is working for me. Especially when Covid hit, because I was still covering my own school fees.” At that point I was still covering my own living expenses. So, I became independent by choice very, like very early, so I had to make decisions that weren't necessarily favorable to a parent who'd like to still dabble in money of the child.
John Manyike 13:14
Yeah. So, how did you maneuver that? I mean, to get to a point where there's at least some compromise and understanding between you and your mom around the money issue?
Yanga Sobetwa 13:21
It needed a lot of patience, and a lot of wisdom, like in terms of how to speak to your parents, because obviously you can also give into the emotion, like when there's a misunderstanding, and you're not really like getting to the gist of things, and no one wants to compromise. Obviously, you're gonna get frustrated. So you need to be able to manage your own emotions. Be emotionally intelligent. I'm working towards, I’m not completely there. But like there needs to be a certain maturity emotionally and intelligence for you to be able to calm down when your mother or your father is coming up, and also choice of words. It's complex, and it needs a lot of time and a lot of patience. And it's not going to take one time.
John Manyike 14:00
You've dropped some gems there, especially for young people on how to handle that conversation about money with parents and all that. What would you say for mothers or fathers who might have a view in terms of how the money thing needs to work with young ones who is starting to earn an income?
Yanga Sobetwa 14:17
I think this thing also goes before that, I think it goes into the transition from being a teenager young adults to a working class citizen, someone who's working. You see that transition, like even when it comes to personal things, not just when it comes to money, like holistically, there needs to be conversations about that and what your expectations are, and be open about it. Because there's a point where your child is not your child anymore like that. There needs to be some grace, I guess, from both sides, from my experience, because it is a huge transition. And I do recommend therapy. I recommend therapy a lot about such conversations, because it is a huge thing to process.
John Manyike 15:02
What do you think makes a black tax conversation very complicated for young people?
Yanga Sobetwa 15:07
I think it's the guilt. Because parents can be manipulative. Parents can be manipulative, I raised you, and looked after you, who was supposed to do it? Like who else was supposed to be? You decided you want me so you are here. But like, also like the guilt trip. Sometimes it gets to us. A lot of us it gets to us? I think that's what makes the conversation a little bit complicated and difficult.
John Manyike 15:34
You know, a lot of young people also struggle with making a decision around, what should I buy first? Should I buy a car first or should I buy a property first?
Yanga Sobetwa 15:44
My case was very different because I already had a car from the competition. I think I would have decided on the house because my mom, my mom had a lot of careers growing up. She was also a real estate agent. And so just like the importance of property investment has always been taught to me from a very young age. So, I've known, I think that's one of the things that kind of like, made me have a good head on my shoulders, knowing such, such things and just seeing how property was a conversation because in some households, property investment isn't necessarily a conversation. And I've seen it like even now in my in my adult life. Property Investment is something that I find really important, and it's something that I'm dabbling into. I've already started, and it's really, really cool that I'm this young, I have my own property, renting out my own property. For me, I've seen what it's done for me right now, as I'm speaking the place that I got, I'm renting it out. And me living in Joburg, I don't have stress about rent, because I already have that income. And I don't like working. I really don't like working and doing nine to five jobs, so passive incomes like that, that is very important.
John Manyike 16:52
You have big plans after winning Idols. I mean, I remember you spoke about you wanted to study towards entertainment law.
Yanga Sobetwa 16:59
You know my business very well.
John Manyike 17:02
You wanted to do a PhD in music. You wanted to start your own production company. How far did you go with that?
Yanga Sobetwa 17:08
I feel like being held; this is an accountability session? Like of being held accountable, did you do...
John Manyike 17:18
Yes, what you said you're going to do.
Yanga Sobetwa 17:19
Hey, life.
John Manyike 17:20
Life happens.
Yanga Sobetwa 17:22
Life, no, but also we evolve. There are some things that I thought I wanted at the time and I needed. I don't think I need any more like a music PhD. I don't think I need it anymore. I don't understand the concept unless maybe you're planning on being in the classical side of things, or like going to America with your degree in music. I don't believe that if you're musically talented, you should study music. I genuinely, I don't get it. I don't understand it. I think there are ways of studying it and learning it. I did music in high school. I don't feel I wasn't excited about it as a subject. But I really enjoyed the performance side because I didn't have to study for a lot of the stuff like music theory, I didn't, I still don't get it. I have grade 4 in music. And a lot of people are like, “wow, you have grade 4 in music”, I’m like, I don't understand a thing. But like, for me, what would substitute for me would be the musical performance side of things. With the music, PhD situation, I was like, it's okay. I don't have to do that. Uhm, entertainment law, that's definitely still something that I want to do. Timelines are not as normal as I would have liked them to be or as regular. My timeline didn't necessarily go the way that other people's timeline go and that's okay. And I've understood and I've embraced that, that's okay. But it's definitely something that I still want because I'm very passionate about it. And it's something that's always been in my heart from a very young age. I think that's my excellence comes from just seeing, like, artists being exploited and not seeing excellence in the black community when it comes to music and music and performance. So for me from there, that's where like my interest when it comes to you know, entertainment law came in. Production company, I'm not sure. My YouTube channel is a production company.
John Manyike 19:08
Yeah, you have to start somewhere.
Yanga Sobetwa 19:14
Right, yeah. Although it got suspended like at 80,000 subscribers, it got suspended.
John Manyike 19:19
Why?
Yanga Sobetwa 19:19
I don't know why. I would love to know why. I don't know why, but that really hurts. So, now I'm starting from scratch again.
John Manyike 19:28
If your financial future called you, what would it say to Yanga?
Yanga Sobetwa 20:49
Wow, I don’t know. I'm being honest, and it’s okay to not know. I don't know because I don't know my future.
John Manyike 19:43
Yeah.
Yanga Sobetwa 19:43
I have aspirations. I have things that I'm working towards. I think my future would say, you would need to, like, just discipline yourself a little bit more. I think those are things that just consistently that I felt all around in my life, not just financially. Discipline has always been a thing that I needed to work on. Because a lot of my decisions, and I grew up in a very protected environment. I didn't organically want to be disciplined. I was just disciplined because I was scared. So, a lot of things I did out of fear instead of out of really wanting to.
John Manyike 20:19
Interesting. So, who do you think, has had a biggest influence in your life in terms of your general principles of life or values?
Yanga Sobetwa 20:28
My pastor from Cape Town, he's Pastor Ndima from Agape Baptist Church. He wasn't a pastor at first. He came in like as a brother. I mean, he came to do his practicals at our church. And he was also very like musical as well. So, for me, like the musical side of it, and just like how warm he was, has had a lot of impact in my life.
John Manyike 20:48
So, what are your ultimate career goals?
Yanga Sobetwa 20:51
I see myself as one of the best-selling platinum artists in the world, gospel artists in the world. I've had a vision from a very young age, like the age of 14, God gave me a vision, it was like, “Your vision should be to bring people closer to me, through your music, through your lifestyle, and through everything that you do even your speech.” I see myself doing that on a greater platform, draw people closer to their purpose and to the plan, to the plans that God has for them.
John Manyike 21:19
Do you have other interests apart from music?
Yanga Sobetwa 21:23
Definitely. I'm very business minded. And that's something that I've like, noticed about myself. I love photography. I love makeup. I did my own face today. Yes, if you want to book me, book me. Content creation, but I don't have the discipline for it, but I think I'm a creative all around.
John Manyike 21:40
Your other interests that have influenced your music?
Yanga Sobetwa 21:43
Not really, maybe photography, because I love nature. And sometimes it inspires me when it comes to writing music, which is something that I've dabbled in the last couple of years. And I think I've grown to be really, really good at. You guys will know that soon. Because I am recording on the first of July my “Gospel Album” at Shine studio. Everybody do come, okay, thank you.
John Manyike 22:06
It's gonna be live.
Yanga Sobetwa 22:07
It's gonna be live.
John Manyike 22:08
Oh, wow. So, let's talk about how you see music as a business.
Yanga Sobetwa 22:13
Yeah. So, how do I see those things coming together? Like I have a lot of concepts. I have a lot of business ideas as well, that have nothing to do with music. It doesn't necessarily influence each other. But I think when it comes to creativity, I think definitely it comes from the same place, but it doesn't necessarily influence each other.
John Manyike 22:35
So, musically speaking, who are your biggest artistic influences?
Yanga Sobetwa 22:39
My biggest artistic influences are your likes of Khaya Mthethwa, Ntokozo. Lately, I've been listening to Todd Dulaney, a lot.
John Manyike 22:46
And as we got towards the end, I mean, what are your financial goals?
Yanga Sobetwa 22:49
So, I definitely do have financial goals. I want to see myself at a place where I don't have to worry about money. Sometimes, like you see that time when it comes to month end, and there are no gigs. And then the one thing that I do strive for is to never live life based on a gig. Worried whether I will get a gig this month. Do I have a gig this month? Which is why like I'm just trying to work on having a stable, passive income.
John Manyike 23:14
So, what are your dream projects?
Yanga Sobetwa 23:15
One of the things that I'd love to do is I want to tour schools and speak to matriculants and just come and have some speakers come in as well, and speak about investment opportunities. That's not information that's really out there for, for high schools. Some of the greatest people in the world and the biggest influences in our lives are entrepreneurs. Some of them didn't finish school, sometimes some of them didn't go to university. So, those are things that are, I think they are very, very important. But like investing into stock as well, is something that can really change your life and can change, like, it can shift your perspective when it comes to like earning income and etc. Another thing that I would like to do is have festivals, youth festivals worldwide.
John Manyike 23:53
You come across as very solid, very focused and you know what you want. You know where you're going, and you know what you believe in?
Yanga Sobetwa 24:00
Yeah.
John Manyike 24:01
In your world, I haven't heard anything about dating [laugh]. Where are you with that?
Yanga Sobetwa 24:07
My dating life isn't public.
John Manyike 24:10
Yeah.
Yanga Sobetwa 24:10
It's never been public. And I like keeping it that way.
John Manyike 24:13
And you like managing it that way?
Yanga Sobetwa 24:14
Yeah.
John Manyike 24:16
No, that's brilliant.
Yanga Sobetwa 24:17
The only man you guys will know is a man I'm married to. No one will know another man here.
John Manyike 24:22
Yes, yes. Now, that's beautiful. Because [laughs] that's all I can say.
Yanga Sobetwa 24:28
I don’t want to be embarrassed, we all go through hurt, trust me, we all go through it. We don't have to show it.
John Manyike 24:34
Yeah, okay. So finally, from you, if you were to encourage or advise young people who have aspirations whether in art in whatever dream career that they want to pursue, what would your advice be to them?
Yanga Sobetwa 24:51
Aspire to inspire before you expire. Living a purposeful life is not just about living a life that inspires you and that pleasures you. Living a purposeful life is about impacting the world out there, including yourself, as you as you live out your dream, the time will come, your life, life is a gift, and it has an expiration date. So, do that and make sure that your purpose is fulfilled.
John Manyike 25:14
Yanga, thank you for joining us. It's been great chatting to you. I'm sure those who will be watching and listening this podcast will be so inspired before they expire.
Yanga Sobetwa 25:24
Oh, my dear, it’s a pleasure, thank you so much.
Old Mutual 25:27
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