: Inkabi Zezwe is riding high on a wave of success celebrating multiple wins that further solidify their position as two South African music giants.
The hit single “Umbayimbayi” has been gaining recognition far and wide. The song’s impactful lyrics and infectious beat have earned them a well-deserved nomination at the DSTV Content Creators Award for Song of the Year. This nomination not only highlights the pair’s talent but underpins their contribution to the South African music landscape with Ukhamba as a project.
Fans can vote for “Umbayimbayi” HERE. Voting closes on 23 August.
The official music video to “Umbayimbayi” has also surpassed 7 million views on YouTube while “Sayona” reaches 833K views and is currently trending at #53.
On 29 July, Inkabi Zezwe take their four-city tour to Cape Town, bringing their electrifying set to the Mother City. Fans in Cape Town can look forward to an unforgettable evening of music, dance and Zulu culture with performances from Inkabi Nation as well as Ingoma dancers. Cape Town fans will also have the opportunity to meet Inkabi Zezwe on Friday, 28 July at the Butan’s V&A Waterfront store.
PHASE 2 of the merch dropping soon which will include two new pieces. Still available are the official T-shirts and bucket hats both in store and online at Butan HERE and Shesha stores HERE.
The anticipation for Inkabi Zezwe in Johannesburg has reached unprecedented levels with tickets for their third date at Carnival City now officially sold out, with a month to go. Tickets to the Cape Town and Durban shows are still available on Computicket.
Ukhamba Tour Info
Cape Town
Date: 29 July 2023 07:00 pm
Location: Grand Arena, Grandwest
Tickets: R280 – R480. Click here for more info.
Durban
Date: 03 September 2023 05:00 pm
Location: Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium
Tickets: R380. Click here for more info.
ABOUT INKABI ZEZWE
Sjava, whose real name is Jabulani Hadebe was born in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal in 1984. He began exploring music at age 10, forming his own acapella group ‘Abafana base Mpumalanga’ but his entertainment career was set in motion when he took on acting, starring in popular television shows such as Zone 14 and uGugu no Andile. His debut album Isina Muva (2016) was his major transition into the music industry and earned him ‘Best Produced Album’ awards at both the Metro FM and South African Music (SAMA) award ceremonies in 2017. That same year, Sjava won the first DStv Mzansi Viewer’s Choice Rising Star. In 2018 Sjava was featured in the Kendrick Lamar-curated and Grammy nominated Black Panther: The Album soundtrack. In the same year the superstar won a BET award for ‘Best International Act’ and released his sophomore album Umqhele which scored him ‘Best Afro-Pop Album’ and ‘Album of the Year’ wins at the 2019 SAMAs. His recent album Isibuko (2023) maintains Sjava’s dedication to highlighting the human experience with a rich, bulbous and ethereal soundscape.
Born Siyabonga Nene in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal in 1987, Big Zulu transitioned into rap music in 2008 after a stint in the taxi industry. The rapper’s music is often filled with aspirational subject matter that his fans have long gravitated towards. He melds Maskandi and Hip-Hop with his gripping flow and cadence. Ushun Wenkabi his debut album was released in 2018 but it was Zulu’s third album Ichwane Lenyoka (2021)that helped catapult him to superstardom. The album boasted the hits ‘Mali Eningi’ featuring Ntaba Yase Dubai and Riky Rick, ‘Inhlupheko’, featuring Mduduzi Ncube and ‘Umuzi eSandton’ with Lwah Ndlunkulu. As a testament to his persistence and talent, Big Zulu has won several awards including Song of the year for ‘Mali Eningi’ and ‘Album of the Year’ at the 2021 South African Hip Hop Awards. The superstar has also won in the ‘Collaboration of the Year’ at the 27th annual SAMA awards.
As a duo, Sjava and Big Zulu make up Inkabi Zezwe, a project that celebrates the connection they have as Zulu brothers and musicians. This collaboration places them at the precipice of an interesting moment in music and culture. Their music as individual artists travel back and forth through traditional isiZulu musical forms and more contemporary musical expressions. Sjava is R&B and Afropop / Hip-Hop inclined whereas Big Zulu uses Hip-Hop / Rap to negotiate his musical identity. This ambivalence of genres is a prime opportunity to imagine and create music that is not only an autobiographical anecdote of their intimate worlds but as artists who are attentive to contemporary South Africa. Their new music explores everything that matters to them, love, intimacy, joy, aspiration, and people. Inkabi Zezwe is about community and the beauty of shar