From working on the streets of Durban, Congolese refugee Tresor Riziki has achieved the heights of pop stardom.
Nneka Chile reports.
From Congolese refugee and security guard to music star
Disco beats, bright lights: Tresor Riziki's video for "Electric Nights" is a celebration of the 1980s nightclub scene.
But his journey to stardom has taken him through darker times.
Riziki grew up in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
When he was 17 when he lost his parents.
In 2007 he took the "leap of faith" to leave his home country.
Three months later, he made it to South Africa's port city Durban.
He didn't know anyone.
He couldn't even speak English.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MUSICIAN, TRESOR RIZIKI, SAYING: "I had no other ways to make a living so I worked as a car guard, I worked as a security guard.
I worked in the streets.
It was very tough at that time, very tough." After seven years of struggle he managed to release his debut album, 'VII', in September 2015 - featuring collaborations with award-winning South African artists such as Beatenburg, A.K.A and Khuli Chana.
It won Best Pop Album at the South African Music Awards.
His second album, 'Beautiful Madness', also won.
Last year he made it a hat trick with 'Nostalgia'.
Featuring an eclectic mix of artists from across the continent, it's his ode to the disco era.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MUSICIAN, TRESOR RIZIKI, SAYING: "Nostalgia has been one of my favourite projects I have done so far because it represents the sounds I grew up listening to in Congo.
I took that sound, I took my childhood, the sonic element of my childhood and brought it to life." Tresor also manages his own record label and is an ambassador for the United Nations' refugee agency.
He says he's not forgotten where he came from, and that it is important to change the narrative on refugees.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MUSICIAN, TRESOR RIZIKI, SAYING: "I'm a refugee myself.
I came to South Africa as a refugee and now people need to look at me and like hey, look at what a refugee looks like."