Jelly Babie is a South African Bacardi musician, dancer, and entrepreneur who rose to fame at the age of 16 with her breakout hit “Thaba ke Chenchitse.” Known for her high-energy performances in the Bacardi music genre, she has collaborated with prominent South African artists and has become a controversial figure in the entertainment industry. The young star has also ventured into business with her beauty salon.
Jelly Babie Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Karabo Khakhu |
| Stage name | Jelly Babie |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 27 January 2006 |
| Age | 19 years old (as of November 2025) |
| Place of birth | Mabopane, Tshwane, South Africa |
| Current residence | Mabopane, Tshwane, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Religion | Traditional African spirituality |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-husband | Sangoma (name undisclosed) |
| Education | Dropped out in Grade 11 |
| Profession | Bacardi musician, dancer, entrepreneur, traditional healer |
| Net worth | Estimated $100,000 – $300,000 |
| Social media | Instagram: @jellybabie__official (135K+ followers) |
Who is Jelly Babie?
Jelly Babie is a young South African musical artist who specializes in the Bacardi music genre. She gained widespread recognition in 2022 when her collaboration with the late producer Vusi Ma R5 on the song “Thaba ke Chenchitse” went viral across South Africa. The Mabopane-born performer has since become one of the most talked-about figures in the Bacardi music scene.
Beyond her music career, Jelly Babie is known for her energetic dance performances and controversial public presence. In 2025, she made headlines for accepting her spiritual calling as a traditional healer while continuing her music career. The young artist has also expanded into entrepreneurship with the launch of her beauty salon business.
How old is Jelly Babie? Age and birthday
Jelly Babie is 19 years old as of November 2025. She was born on 27 January 2006 in Mabopane, a residential township in Tshwane, South Africa. Her zodiac sign is Aquarius, which is known for being independent and unconventional.
The young musician moved out of her parents’ house in 2023 to secure her own apartment. This decision came as her music career began gaining momentum and she sought more independence.
What is Jelly Babie’s real name?
Jelly Babie’s real name is Karabo Khakhu. She adopted the stage name “Jelly Babie” as she entered the music industry and became associated with the Bacardi music movement in South Africa.
The stage name has become synonymous with her energetic performances and youthful persona. Fans and fellow artists in the industry primarily refer to her by her stage name rather than her birth name.
Jelly Babie’s career
Early beginnings
Jelly Babie’s music career began when she started working with the late Itumeleng “Vusi Ma R5” Mosoeu, who was known as the “King of Bacardi.” Vusi Ma R5 discovered her talent and gave her the opportunity to collaborate on tracks that would define her early career.
The young artist’s big break came when she was just 16 years old. Her collaboration with Vusi Ma R5 on the song “Thaba ke Chenchitse” was released in April 2022 and quickly gained viral status across South African social media platforms and music streaming services.
Musical breakthrough
“Thaba ke Chenchitse” became a massive hit in the Bacardi music scene, establishing Jelly Babie as a rising star. The song showcased her distinctive vocal style and ability to deliver the high-energy performances characteristic of Bacardi music. This success opened doors for numerous collaborations with established South African artists.
Following her breakthrough, Jelly Babie worked on several notable collaborations. She featured on tracks with prominent artists including Uncle Waffles, Tony Duardo, and Chley on the song “Babiee” released in March 2023. She also collaborated with BET Award-nominated amapiano star Pabi Cooper and Thama Tee on the track “Jukulyn” which was released in November 2023.
Loss of mentor
In January 2023, Jelly Babie faced a significant setback when her mentor Vusi Ma R5 passed away. His death had a profound impact on her personal and professional life. The attention surrounding his death followed her to school, where teachers and classmates constantly commented on her music career and attendance at gigs.
This unwanted attention contributed to her decision to drop out of school in Grade 11. During an interview on Culture Spotlight in November 2023, Jelly Babie revealed that she left school due to the constant focus on her relationship with the late producer and her music activities.
Continued success
Despite the loss of her mentor, Jelly Babie continued to build her career in the Bacardi music scene. She remained active in the South African music industry, performing at various events and clubs throughout Tshwane and surrounding areas. Her performances are characterized by her signature dance moves and high-energy stage presence.
In 2025, Jelly Babie appeared on Season 3 of the popular Showmax series “Adulting.” Her appearance on the show introduced her to a broader audience beyond the music scene and showcased different aspects of her personality and life journey.
Business ventures
In September 2025, Jelly Babie expanded beyond music by opening “For The Babies Beauty Salon” in Mabopane. The salon is dedicated to providing beauty services for children and young women. The business venture was announced on her social media platforms and received support from fellow traditional healer Gogo Maweni.
The beauty salon represents Jelly Babie’s entrepreneurial ambitions and her desire to create multiple income streams beyond her music career. The salon offers hair styling, makeup services, and other beauty treatments tailored specifically for younger clients.
What is Jelly Babie’s net worth?
As of 2025, Jelly Babie’s net worth is estimated to be between $100,000 and $300,000. She has built her wealth through various income streams including music royalties, performance fees, brand partnerships, and her beauty salon business.
Her primary income source is her music career, where she earns from streaming platforms, performance bookings, and collaborations with other artists. Jelly Babie is available for bookings through her management team and maintains an active presence at clubs and events throughout South Africa.
The young artist previously had endorsement deals with beauty brands, including The P Squared Beauty Parlour. However, she lost several brand partnerships in April 2024 following a controversy involving a retail cashier. Despite this setback, she has worked to rebuild her brand image and secure new business opportunities.
Is Jelly Babie married? Relationship status and divorce
Jelly Babie got married in September 2024 at the age of 18 in a traditional wedding ceremony. Her husband was identified as a sangoma (traditional healer), though his full name was never publicly disclosed. The marriage drew significant attention on social media, with many questioning whether she was too young to be married.
However, the marriage was short-lived. In August 2025, just 11 months after her wedding, Jelly Babie announced that she was divorcing her husband. She took to social media to share that “marriage is not for izingane” (children) and that she was officially done with her sangoma husband.
The divorce announcement generated widespread discussion on social media platforms. The young artist revealed that she felt marriage was too demanding for someone her age and that she needed to focus on her personal growth and career. As of November 2025, Jelly Babie is single and has stated she has no children.
Jelly Babie’s spiritual calling
In August 2025, Jelly Babie publicly revealed that she had accepted her calling as a traditional healer (sangoma). The 19-year-old artist from Mabopane announced that she had been resisting her ancestral calling for nearly two years before finally embracing it.
Despite accepting her spiritual calling, Jelly Babie made it clear that she would not quit her music career. She confirmed that she is a sangoma and shared photos and videos on social media showing her spiritual journey, including footage of traditional ceremonies and her sangoma training.
The announcement received mixed reactions from her fans and the South African public. Some praised her for honoring her ancestors and accepting her calling, while others questioned how she would balance her music career with her spiritual responsibilities. Jelly Babie has stated that she intends to continue pursuing both paths simultaneously.
Controversy: The Big Save cashier incident
In April 2024, Jelly Babie became embroiled in a major controversy that significantly impacted her career and public image. A video surfaced on social media showing the artist in a heated argument with a cashier named Martha Mazibuko at Big Save supermarket in Mabopane.
In the video, which was recorded by Jelly Babie herself, she was seen speaking in a disrespectful tone to the cashier and demeaning her profession. The video quickly went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms, generating widespread backlash from South African internet users.
Consequences
The fallout from the incident was severe and immediate. Jelly Babie’s follower count on social media plummeted from over 600,000 to approximately 125,000 as fans unfollowed her in protest of her behavior. She also lost several brand endorsement deals, including her partnership with The P Squared Beauty Parlour.
The cashier, Martha Mazibuko, was initially suspended by Big Save following the incident, which generated even more criticism toward Jelly Babie for the consequences her actions had caused for the worker.
Apology and reconciliation
On 24 April 2024, Jelly Babie returned to Big Save supermarket to publicly apologize to Martha Mazibuko and the entire staff. She acknowledged her disrespectful behavior and expressed remorse for her actions. The cashier accepted her apology, and they reconciled publicly.
The apology was captured on video and shared across social media platforms. While some members of the public accepted her apology, others remained critical of her behavior. The incident served as a significant lesson for the young artist about the consequences of disrespectful conduct and the power of social media.
Fast facts about Jelly Babie
- Early career start: Jelly Babie began her music career at age 15 when she started collaborating with the late Vusi Ma R5.
- School dropout: She left school in Grade 11 in 2023 but has expressed interest in returning through homeschooling.
- Youngest married artist: At 18 years old, she became one of the youngest married artists in South African entertainment industry, though the marriage lasted only 11 months.
- Spiritual path: She is a practicing sangoma (traditional healer) who accepted her calling in 2025 after resisting it for nearly two years.
- Social media recovery: After losing approximately 475,000 followers due to the cashier controversy, she has slowly rebuilt her online presence to 135,000 followers on Instagram as of 2025.
- Business owner: She owns and operates “For The Babies Beauty Salon” in Mabopane, which specializes in beauty services for children.
- TV appearance: She appeared on Season 3 of the Showmax series “Adulting” in 2025, expanding her presence beyond music.
- Genre specialist: She is recognized as one of the leading female voices in the Bacardi music genre in South Africa.
- First car: In 2023, Jelly Babie purchased her first car, marking a significant personal achievement in her young career.
- Young entrepreneur: At just 19 years old, she has successfully balanced careers in music, traditional healing, and business ownership.
Read more: Who is Siya Kolisi? Biography, net worth, age, height, wife, children, career
Wrapping up
Jelly Babie has emerged as one of South Africa’s most talked-about young entertainers. From her breakout hit at age 16 to her current status as a multi-faceted artist, entrepreneur, and traditional healer, the 19-year-old has experienced remarkable success and significant challenges. Despite controversies and setbacks, including a failed marriage and social media backlash, she continues to pursue her music career while embracing her spiritual calling and business ventures. As she matures and navigates the complexities of fame, Jelly Babie remains a compelling figure in South African entertainment with the potential for continued growth and evolution.
References
- Their Magazine. “Jelly Babie: Biography, Age, Real Name, Married, Education“.
- TimesLIVE. “Jelly Babie on why she left school in grade 11“.
- Daily Sun. “Mysterious illness attacks Barcadi musician Jelly Babie’s leg“.
- Daily Sun. “Jelly Babie leaves her mysterious hubby!“.
- Daily Sun. “Vumani Bo! Thokoza, Jelly Babie“.
- Daily Sun. “Bacardi queen Jelly Babie makes boss moves!“.
- IOL. “Jelly Babie says sorry after insulting cashier in viral video“.
- TimesLIVE. “Jelly Babie ‘makes amends’ with retail cashier after viral altercation video“.
- Sunday World. “Ma R5’s ex-lover Jelly Babie will not quit music for spiritual calling“.
Sarah Mitchell – Founder & Editor-in-Chief. With 6 years covering entertainment for outlets like Entertainment Weekly and People, Sarah brings deep industry knowledge and an extensive network of sources. She’s interviewed over 500 celebrities, covered 12 Oscar ceremonies, and has an uncanny ability to spot fake stories from miles away.
