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Trending in Rudo Schwim’s World
Latest Single
Hemel In My Hande
Released Jan 23, 2026
Trending Globally
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Story
Quick Facts
Born
1988
1988
From
South Africa
South Africa
Journey
Rudo Schwim is a prominent South African Afrikaans singer and entrepreneur who emerged as a significant figure in the Central South African music scene in 2025. Based in the picturesque town of Clarens in the Eastern Free State, the 38-year-old artist spent years balancing his passion for performance with local business ventures, including running the Firkin Pub and Grill and a tire business. Though he had performed since the age of seven and led the Rudo Schwim Band, his path to national stardom was famously accidental; he only auditioned for the OFM Trok Talent competition after his wife surprised him at work with his guitar.
Schwim was crowned the winner of the talent search in April 2025, securing a prestigious development contract with Select Musiek, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Africa. This partnership birthed his breakout single, "Clarens Winter," in July 2025. The track an evocative ode to his hometown and a personal narrative about convincing his partner to trade city life for the mountains became an instant hit. It debuted in the top ten of the OFM Top 30 and reached the top 60 of the Apple Music Afrikaans charts.
By early 2026, Schwim has solidified his reputation as a "chart-climbing sensation." His music is celebrated for its authentic, melodic quality, often featuring live instrumentation like acoustic guitar and piano. With follow-up work such as "Hemel In My Hande," he continues to represent the "heart of the Free State," blending relatable storytelling with a refined Afrikaans pop-rock sound.