Five amazing things we learnt from Kabelo Mabalane's book launch

Kabelo Mabalane, better known as Bouga Love introduced the media and public to his autobiography, 'I Ran For My Life' at a book launch held in Rosebank recently. We look at the five best things we learnt about the kwaito star.

He had a troubled relationship with his father

Journalist and author Eusebius McKaiser pointed out to Mabalane that he chronicled his life with his father in more detail than he did with his mother. One of the reasons for this was because Mabalane's father had a huge impact on him, he was also an alcoholic whose substance dependency filtered down to a young Mabalane. Despite dealing with a dad who was a drinker, Mabalane had a relationship with him.
"There is a saying that the older you become the more wiser your dad becomes. I've had to deal with failure, success and see life and I got to understand why he reacted the way he did in certain situations. He was susceptible to life's pressures and dealing with the cards life dealt him. I understand he was human and I'm hoping my daughter will say the same of me regardless of what I was faced with," said Mabalane.

He started experimenting with drugs because he was idle and bored

The former TKZee member recounted how he spent time after school with nothing much to do. He was 18-years old and trying to figure out his life. He explains that he felt he had disappointed his parents by not excelling academically and a pattern started where he would smoke weed everyday and drink occasionally.
"I put pressure on myself and started to self-medicate. It helped me forget about my failures and was an escape. I then started using ecstasy and from there I went on to use coke."

He had a near death experience after going on a four day coke binge

After using cocaine for four days straight, barely sleeping and being high - Mabalane's actions caught up with him. The one-time SAMA MC experienced heart palpitations and was rushed to hospital by his girlfriend and close friend.
"My friend drove the car onto oncoming traffic, rushing and afraid I would die. That day not one car drove in our direction. I take that as a sign of divine intervention. The doctor asked if I was on anything and I told him I was on coke. He put me on oxygen and I had to sit it out. Funny enough I kept thinking that I had used a different dealer and he had given me the wrong stash."

Kabelo Mabalane/Instagram 

Bouga Love on his wedding day

Rehab taught him to explore his weaknesses

"Rehab taught me to feel and share weaknesses. It taught me it's okay to ask for help. That it's fine to share vulnerabilities, weaknesses and that strengths are cool but we need to hear when our inner selves are crying out for help," said Mabalane.

Gospel music was a route he seriously considered taking

Having a prominent role as a preacher at Rhema Bible Church lead Mabalane to consider singing gospel music. He eventually opted not to despite being on a path to 'salvation and being born again.' The support he received while doing secular music convinced Mabalane that he was doing the right thing and ultimately staying true to himself.

Excerpt from Mabalane's book

"Once I started taking cocaine, ecstasy didn't cut it any more. I was paranoid. I wore sunglasses everywhere, even indoors; I was grinding my teeth all the time, and drinking excessively....I'd go on four-day, five-day binges, without any sleep at all...

Another night, I was on ecstasy, and I had been drinking. I was driving, heading to Sandton, tipping off my head, drunk, in my friend's 4x4. The robot went amber and I guess I floored it. And suddenly there was this pizza delivery guy on a motorbike. As I hit him, I just remember this pizza flying all over the place. I ran to a garage across the road. I had this funny notion that if you ate a lot of sugar your blood-alcohol level would go down. So there I was, trying to eat these Bar Ones. The cops arrived at the scene, they also recognised me.
And they told me to get out. I didn't think twice, I just left...."