The Durban community is brimming with pride after one of its own, Guru Deshan ‘Styler’ Naidoo, received the prestigious Global Maestro Raga Ratna Award in Chennai, India.
Naidoo made history as the first South African to earn this accolade, regarded as one of the highest honours in Indian classical music. The award was presented at a glittering ceremony by Bollywood icons, music director Shankar Ganesh and actor YG Mahendran.
Through the Guru Gopalan’s School of Drums and the Styler Music Academy, Naidoo has trained dozens of students in tabla, vocals, harmonium, and keyboards. His schools follow a structured syllabus with formal graduations, instilling not only musical excellence but also discipline, respect, and focus in young learners. Many parents credit his teaching with transforming their children’s confidence and academic performance.
True to his humble nature, Naidoo chose not to accept the honour alone. He took 14 young performers from Guru Gopalan’s School of Drums and the Styler Music Academy with him, giving them the rare opportunity to showcase their talent on an international stage. Their tabla, vocal, and harmonium performances left the Chennai audience in awe. One admirer remarked: “This isn’t just his award, it is a victory for his community.”
Born in Mount Edgecombe, Naidoo’s musical journey was shaped by his parents, Sushiela Naidoo and the late Beama Naidoo, both respected musicians in their own right. His late father was a respected figure in music, while his mother continues to inspire as a vocalist and dancer.
Inspired by their brilliance and the way their music touched lives, he began playing the tabla at the tender age of three under the guidance of Guru Gopalan and later Guru Ashley Kisten. By the age of eight, he had recorded his first devotional song, ‘Aum Woru Naalum’.
Despite his deeply rooted heritage of Mount Edgecombe, Naidoo’s fame and musical wonders have earned him a devoted national following—especially in communities such as Chatsworth, Merebank, and surrounding areas, where families often travel far and wide to listen to him perform at gatherings and cultural events.
Today, Naidoo has produced 21 albums, sold over 70 000 CDs worldwide, and achieved more than 10 million digital streams across platforms—earning him recognition as one of the most Googled South African Indian artists. He credits his journey to the guidance of his mentors, Param Guru Ashley Kisten and the late Maha Guru Gopalan Govender, as well as the unwavering love of his parents.
In his emotional acceptance speech, Naidoo said: “I stand here not as one man but as the voice of my Gurus, my parents and my students. This award belongs to the community that raised me, and to every young person whose life has been touched by music.”
