Sjava celebrates the fifth anniversary of 1020 Cartel, a groundbreaking South African record label founded by Sjava and Ruff
Zuko Komisa

Five years on, 1020 Cartel, the visionary label founded by award-winning artist Sjava and producer Ruff, is celebrating its fifth anniversary.
Launched in 2019, 1020 Cartel was never just meant to be a record label. Instead, it was conceived as a comprehensive movement – a unique fusion of a record label, creative agency, music publisher, and concert producer.
The label’s journey officially began with the release of the collaborative album iSambulo (The Revelation) on 28 August 2020.
This project introduced the world to 1020 Cartel’s diverse roster, featuring the soulful voice of Yallunder, the lyrical prowess of rapper Anzo, the poetic depth of Nue Sam, and the traditional Maskandi brilliance of Mzukulu.
Just months later, the momentum continued with the release of Sjava’s extended play, Umsebenzi.
As 1020 Cartel looks back on a half-decade of innovation, its legacy is already firmly established as a driving force behind a new wave of African sound. Sjava took to Instagram to share a video of the journey and celebrated this incredible milestone and wrote:
“5 years of 1020 Cartel ❤️
Thank you to everyone that’s been part of the journey 🙏❤️”
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