Babili Amos Shili, known as ‘Aymos – the coolest municipality’ in the music world, is a nationally recognised, award-winning Amapiano artist. His passion for agriculture is a lesser-known but defining part of his life and has significantly shaped his inspiration beyond the stage.
By Talitha Janse van Vuuren, Multimedia Editor at African Farming
Born and raised in Johannesburg, Babili had little exposure to agriculture and never saw it as part of his world. In his early high school years, a visit to the farm of a long-time friend, Thabiso Mansur – now also his business partner – near Delmas changed that. The quiet escape from city life proved grounding, and gradually his interest in farming began to grow.
From Market Rejects to High-value Crops
From their early days sourcing “reject” produce from formal markets – vegetables that didn’t meet strict retail standards but were still perfectly good – Babili and Mansur learnt the fundamentals of supply chains, pricing and consistency. The work was hands-on and demanding, with early mornings and careful logistics, but it gave them the experience they needed to move from trading into production.
Today, their farm in Bapsfontein, just outside Delmas, has grown into a structured, commercially viable operation. It focuses primarily on high-value peppers – green, red and yellow – while strategically outsourcing select crops such as tomatoes, broccoli and beans to meet market demand efficiently.
By consistently supplying multiple buyers across Pretoria, Johannesburg and City Deep, including clients who require Good Agricultural Practices) (GAP) certification, Aymos frames the farm as more than a passion project: it is a business built on planning, compliance and intentional growth. Their journey demonstrates how young, urban-born farmers can navigate the challenges and opportunities of the industry.
Also read: The female farmer who refused to undervalue her work – and built a winning business
Lessons from Farming and Music
The lessons he learnt on the farm didn’t stay in the fields – they became a guiding philosophy for his life and his music. For Babili, farming and music share more than long hours and hard work – they are both exercises in patience, responsibility and consistency.
“Farming teaches you to be grounded,” he explains. “You plant a seed and you have to wait for it to germinate, grow and eventually bear fruit. You have to invest time and resources to see results.”
The same lessons apply to his music career. Albums, projects and collaborations require time, care and dedication – just like crops cannot be rushed, creative work demands presence and commitment. Early mornings on the farm and late nights in the studio have taught him to embrace both rhythm and routine. Farming has become a mirror for life itself, reinforcing values that extend far beyond the fields: showing up, nurturing what you start and understanding that growth is a journey and not an event.
Beyond building a farm and a music career, Babili is intentional about the legacy he wants to leave for young people. He encourages youth to see agriculture not as a path reserved for those born into it or for older people, but as an opportunity full of possibility. “My passion lies in opening their eyes to the other side of agriculture,” he says. “It’s better when we start young while we’re still active. Even a small backyard garden matters – it teaches responsibility, patience and respect for what we eat.”
Also read: A young farmer’s journey: Dairy farming, discipline and cattle health with Mphathi Zulu
‘Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu’
For Babili, farming is more than a business – it’s a reflection of his values. “I look up to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth [Psalm 121:1–2],” he reflects. Standing on the farm, he contemplates how growth takes time and care, guided by the Zulu proverb “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” – a person is a person through other people. “Life is long,” he says. “The decisions we make, the work we put in and how we treat others all compound over time. Farming has taught me that growth is a process, and the same applies to music, community and life itself. God guides me, and faith keeps me grounded as I balance my work, my relationships and my purpose.”
From the Amapiano studio to the pepper fields of Bapsfontein, Babili’s journey shows that success is not only about talent or opportunity, but about commitment, consistency and the courage to cultivate something meaningful across all areas of life.
Also read: Pecan nuts and livestock: Legendary music producer David Moloele’s journey back to the land
