Kwaito musician and songwriter Kabelo Mabalane, fondly known by his stage name Bouga Luv, is celebrating 21 years since he kicked the habit of drug and alcohol abuse.
Early in his sobriety, said the TKZee member, he realised that staying sober was about more than just him as an individual.
“It was about the community and those struggling with addiction, and showing those around me that staying clean is possible,” said Mabalane.
Reflecting on his journey, Mabalane said there was a growing void at the pinnacle of his success as an artist.
“My sobriety journey declared hope and possibilities. I wanted to show people that if I can stay clean for 10 or even 21 years, they can too,” he said.
“So, my journey represents hope to those waiting to see if staying clean for an extended period is attainable and inspire them to take that first step.”
Mabalane is preparing to run his 50th race at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, having first run the road race back in 2006.
He said he realised during his first marathon that running is more than just physical exercise.
“From seeing the clock I grew up watching as a child to crossing that finish line and the feeling of being part of the running community.
“The benefits that running brought me helped me establish this lifelong commitment.”
He explained that his running experiences translate to real-life challenges.
Mabalane, who has opened shows for world-famous musicians such as Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Ja Rule and Rihanna, has faced countless challenging times in life, similar to running challenges and, in those instances, the same running principles apply.
The ability to persevere gets honed every time you endure on the track and translates to real-life situations, he said, noting it is about finding inner strength and pushing forward.
The 2023 Sanlam Marathon, to be held on October 14 and 15, is taking on its second year as an Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidate to become Africa’s first world marathon major.
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