FROM ZASTRON TO GLOBAL INNOVATION: THE JOURNEY OF MOR
By: Neo Ntsele
Mongezi Adoons, better known by his stage name MOR, comes from the dusty streets of Zastron and is a South African music hybrid creator, composer, and songwriter celebrated for his ability to weave rich storytelling with dynamic musical composition.
With a keen sense for melody and emotional depth, MOR crafts music that transcends genres while retaining a unique African musical essence enhanced by modern technology in the music industry.
Renowned for his active involvement in developing songs from conception to final production, MOR contributes through writing lyrics, developing melodies, performing vocals, and providing overall creative direction.
His work showcases a fluid and adaptable approach to music-making, allowing him to transition smoothly between Afrohouse, contemporary African sounds, and, recently, praise and worship 3-step music.
MOR has collaborated with artists like KG Smallz, participating in multiple releases, joint projects, and live performance productions.
His expanding catalogue demonstrates a dedication to creativity, musical development, and storytelling that resonates with a wide audience.
Inspired by the meaning of his name, Mongezi (to add), MOR views music as a medium to add emotion, perspective, and cultural richness, constantly evolving his sound while broadening his artistic scope.
His musical journey began early, influenced by his grandmother, a renowned conductor of a group called Mehaladitwe, and his sister, who frequently took him to choir competitions.
This led him to join the school choir in primary school, and later, a gospel choir led by the esteemed Pastor Thene.
His passion for music saw him join another church as the lead singer in the choir, often travelling with his pastor to Sterkspruit and Aliwal North to minister through music.
In high school, he was part of a music group called Friends, performing regularly around Zastron.
They even auditioned for MACUFE twice but were told they were still young.
MOR was also mentored by Bra Biza, a South African Music Award winner and jazz legend, who played a significant role in honing his musical discipline.
During his university years, he joined the Central University of Technology (CUT) Gospel Choir led by the renowned artist and pastor Sipho Mnyakeni, further solidifying his musical foundation.
Due to academic commitments, he left the choir while they were recording an album.
"Balancing my work and music is an incredible experience for me. Music is my escape and a way to express emotions I can’t always put into words. After work, I take time to reflect, come up with themes, and start composing—it’s a personal process that helps me reconnect with myself. I enjoy writing and storytelling a lot," said MOR.
He also mentioned that collaborating with an established DJ like KG Smallz was surreal for him.
He added, "I was just creating music, doing music duets on TikTok. I didn't expect it to reach that level, but when KG Smallz messaged me one day expressing interest in working with me, it really reignited my passion and belief that anything is possible. We arranged a meeting, and what began as one track evolved into an EP project, and the anticipation leading up to the release date was incredible. After releasing the project, we saw growth in Shazam searches and received radio airplay on major commercial stations like Metro FM, Lesedi FM, Motsweding FM, as well as international radio stations in countries like Botswana (Yarona FM). That experience showed me that you can define your own path and truly create something meaningful from it."
For MOR, however, balancing full-time employment with music presents significant challenges.
He had to seek approval from his employer, which came with certain conditions, such as not being able to work with government entities.
Since many events are government-sponsored, this limits some performance opportunities. Recently, he had to decline an opportunity to perform with KG Smallz at the Diamonds and Dorings Festival (the largest music festival in the Northern Cape) because it is sponsored by a government department.
Nonetheless, this has not hindered his creativity as he remains committed to making music.
"Right now, I’m focused on creating more music and collaborating with other artists. I have a project lined up that reflects me expressing myself in this new musical era. There's so much to do in these times we live in. The technology we have has really been of assistance to some of us," said MOR.
He encourages anyone with something to offer the world to listen to their inner voice, define their own path, and not let anyone tell them it’s not possible.
He added, "Keep learning, improving your skills every day, and stay humble enough to learn from others."
For more updates about MOR's journey, check out his social media platforms: Facebook (MOR Musiq or Mongezi Mor Adoons), TikTok (MorMusiq1).
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