Leonard Simbarashe Rwodzi[1] (born 12 April 1999),[2][3] known professionally as S1mba, is a Zimbabwean-born British singer-songwriter and rapper. He rose to prominence with his single "Rover" featuring DTG, which reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart as a result of its popularity on the video-sharing platform TikTok, and earned him his first Brit Award nomination for "Song of the Year".

S1mba
Birth nameLeonard Simbarashe Rwodzi
Born (1999-04-12) 12 April 1999 (age 25)
Harare, Zimbabwe
OriginSwindon, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2018–present
LabelsParlophone Records, Rax Productions
Websites1mba.co.uk

Early life

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Rwodzi moved from Harare to Swindon at nine years old before his father was given the job of head gardener at Pusey Estate in Oxfordshire.[4] While in Zimbabwe, he was introduced to music through his experiences with djembe drums and marimbas.[1] In England, Rwodzi formed the foundations of his musical career while at church where he discovered gospel music.[5] Rwodzi attended Faringdon Community College, in the market town of Faringdon.[4] He then attended New College in Swindon where he studied music production and music technology,[6][7] eventually recording his debut single "The Plan" in the college's music studio.[8]

Boxing career

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S1mba vs Oogway

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On 30 August 2023, it was announced that Rwodzi would make his boxing debut against Turkish-Dutch Internet personality MasterOogwgay on the undercard of MF & DAZN: X Series 009 at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle upon Tyne, England on 23 September.[9] However, Rwodzi would later pull out of the bout, being replaced with Armz Korleone.

Discography

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Mixtapes

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  • 2021: Good Time Long Time

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, certifications and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[10]
AUS
[11]
DEN
[12]
IRE
[13]
NZ
[14]
NL
[15]
SWE
[16]
"The Plan"[17] 2018 Non-album singles
"High Key"[18] 2019
"24/7"[19]
"Rover"
(featuring DTG)
2020 3 7 6 3 8 17 24 Good Time Long Time
"Loose"
(featuring KSI)
14 23
[24]
"Bounce"
(featuring Tion Wayne and Stay Flee Get Lizzy)[25]
2021
"On & On"
(with A7S)
2022 Non-album singles
"Poppin'"
(with Django23 and BNXN featuring TSB)
"Karolina'"
(with MayTen)
"Stuck (Your Heart)"
(with Blxckie and MayTen)
2023 TBA
"Hita"
(with Young Franco)[26]
2024
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List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, certifications and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
AUS
DEN
IRE
NZ
NL
SWE
"Worth It"
(ZieZie featuring S1mba and Stylo G)[27]
2020 Non-album singles
"Tick Tock (UK Mix)"
(Clean Bandit and Mabel featuring S1mba)[28]
"Naughty Naughty"
(Preds Uk featuring Swarmz, S1mba and Noizy)[29]
"Ayo!"
(Kamille featuring S1mba)[30]
2021
"Glorious"
(GRM Daily featuring Dappy and S1mba)
2022
"No Stress"
(Amerado featuring S1mba)
2022 G.I.N.A

Remixes

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List of remixes
Title Year Album
"Get Out My Head (Swarmz & S1mba Remix)"[31]
(with Shane Codd)
2021 Non-album single

Guest appearances

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List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Could Be My Somebody"[32] 2021 Becky Hill Only Honest on the Weekend
"light on me" 2023 S-X Things Change (Deluxe)

References

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  1. ^ a b Homewood, Ben (4 June 2020). "Making Waves: S1mba". Music Week. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Appointments for Leonard Simbarashe RWODZI (born April 1999)". Companies House. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Your life can really change in a year. God's given me so many blessings to celebrate this past year and this new age is another thing to give thanks for..." Instagram. @s1mbaofficial [verified account] on Instagram. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b "S1mba's hit single experience with Rover 'surreal'". BBC News. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  5. ^ Bruce, Robert (29 April 2020). "S1mba reflects on 'Rover' going viral on TikTok". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. ^ Hill, Jamie (5 June 2020). "Former New College student bags Number 3 spot in UK music charts". Swindon Link. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  7. ^ "5 facts to Get to Know S1mba". Warner Music NZ. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Teachers react as ex-New College student gets to number 3 in the Top 40 singles chart". Swindon Advertiser. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  9. ^ Walker, Christopher (30 August 2023). "Idris Virgo vs. Aaron Chalmers headlines MF & DAZN: X Series 009 in Newcastle". DAZN.
  10. ^ "S1mba ft DTG | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Discography S1mba". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Discography S1mba". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Discography S1mba". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Discography S1mba". charts.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Discography S1mba". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Discography S1mba". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  17. ^ "The Plan - Single by S1mba". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  18. ^ "High Key - Single by S1mba". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  19. ^ "24/7 - Single by S1mba". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  20. ^ a b "British certifications – S1mba". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 August 2022. Type S1mba in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  21. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Danish single certifications – S1mba feat. DTG – Rover". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  23. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – S1mba feat. DTG – Rover". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 18 September 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Bounce (feat. Tion Wayne & Stay Flee Get Lizzy) on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Young Franco Collaborates With S1mba on New Single 'Hita'". Broadway World. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Worth It - Single by ZieZie". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Tick Tock (feat. S1mba) (UK Mix) - Single by Clean Bandit & Mabel". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Naughty Naughty (feat. Swarmz, S1mba and Noizy) - Single by Preds Uk". Spotify. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  30. ^ "AYO! (feat. Swarmz) - Single by Kamille". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Get Out My Head (Swarmz & S1mba Remix) – Single by Shane Codd". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Only Honest On The Weekend by Becky Hill". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 February 2022.