DJ Boonu has died after a short illness, leaving Durban’s gqom scene and the wider South African music industry in mourning, reports Cape {town} Etc.
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According to TimesLIVE, the artist, born Andile Chili, rose to prominence as the official DJ for Big Nuz and later became known for the 2017 anthem uSwidi Wodwa.
Reports said he passed away on Wednesday morning, with tributes beginning to spread across social media soon after the news broke.
Breaking news
Durban Music Fraternity Mourns the Passing of DJ Boonu
The Durban music fraternity is mourning the passing of DJ, producer, and businessman DJ Boonu.
Born Andile Chili from Umlazi, DJ Boonu was known for his hit single “uSwidi Wodwa,” released in 2017, and for… pic.twitter.com/N2cZU4InXE
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) March 25, 2026
Also see: DJ Warras’s family breaks the silence after his death
Colleagues and fans shared their sorrow online. Fellow musician Asanda Lynette Mkhize wrote, “wish this was not true,” while BI Phakathi posted,”Rest in peace, DJ Boonu.”
Boonu also built a strong reputation beyond the decks. He worked through Swidi Films, won a South African Music Award for Best Music Video for Gucci, and helped shape the visual side of modern South African music.
His catalogue also included Abangani Bami, and his performances with names such as DJ Tira and Oskido kept him close to the centre of the local scene. For many listeners, his music captured the pulse of Durban nightlife and gave gqom wider reach.
His death leaves a gap in a genre he helped push into the mainstream. Funeral and memorial details have not yet been announced.
First published by Cape {town} Etc
Compiled by Angelica Rhoda
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