Aubrey Boikanyo hails from the dusty village of Phokeng "Lenatong" outside Rustenburg. He started his music career professionally in 2012 while he was studying towards Performing Arts at The Field Band Academy in Durban. He is a singer and songwriter and goes by the stage name Ma-O. His music career started back in 2004 as a dancer at Countless Production.
In 2007, after his matric, he became part of the Field Band Foundation, which led him to study at their base in Durban. There were exchange programmes annually between Norway and South Africa, and Ma-O made it to Norway and other overseas countries like Belgium and Amsterdam. He was also part of the Gymnaestrada team that went to Geneva in Switzerland in 2011 to represent the country.
In 2012, he moved to Pretoria where he was recruited by Tebogo Manganye of Leciatainment to form a duo named Campari and it helped him shape his music career as a performer. They then released a hot single titled Mamasita, with his fellow band member Bakang Beekay Monyatsi. They toured around the continent and had the opportunity to perform at The Dessert Race in Botswana (Jwaneng).
"Unfortunately facing difficulties in the music industry, I had to come home to start afresh. That's when the brand Ma-O was established in 2015 until now. Since then, I started working on my solo projects and fighting very hard to get my name out there and with the grace of God we're still here and going strong," he pointed out.
He performed in big stages such as Metro FM Heatwave in 2019, 2021 and 2022, Rusty Summer Fiesta, Doek and Jeans Rustenburg, Joburg and Pretoria Elite Riders Charity Run, Rusty Rocks and the I am Woman Experience at the Sun City SuperBowl in 2022/2023. "I always write mostly about my experiences in life and love.
Most of my music is more about heartbreak than the good times, I honestly have experienced more heartbreak than love hence on my recent project, I decided to follow the gospel route," he added. He released a single titled Ntetlelle under his label Music and it has been getting airplay on Metro FM and other radio stations, mostly on Sundays Ma-O is an all-rounder from doing Gospel to House music and Afro Soul.
His Afro-Gospel Project is one to soothe your ears and spirit titled 'The Gospel EP' (available on all digital platforms). He has a single awaiting release titled Sunday Belongs to Lovers. His live performances always leave the ladies asking for more, hence his followers call him Mr Sexual Healing aka The New Age Marvin Gaye.
