For many South Africans, Vusi Nova’s music has soundtracked some of life’s most memorable moments.
Starting this October, the celebrated vocalist is taking that connection beyond the speakers and onto the stage, inviting fans to celebrate a decade of music, memories, and a journey that is still unfolding at his ‘Her To Stay National Tour’
The first stop is The Ridge, Emalahleni, this Saturday, 17 October, where Vusi Nova will officially launch the first leg of his Here to Stay National Tour at The Ridge. From there, the tour will travel across the country, bringing together audiences who have grown with his music and those discovering its depth for the first time.
Presented by Nova Sounds, the national concert series runs from October 2026 to March 2027, covering eight cities and nine concert nights, including two-night engagements in Cape Town and Gqeberha.
At its heart, this is a celebration of an artist who has continued to evolve without losing the emotional honesty that made people fall in love with his voice in the first place.
Tickets: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1600571502
A decade of Naninina and the memories that never left
Ten years ago, his debut album, Naninina marked an important chapter in Vusi Nova’s musical journey. A decade later, the milestone offers an opportunity to look back at how far he has travelled, the music he has given his audience, and the connection that has endured over the years.
The Here to Stay National Tour will revisit that journey, bringing selections from Naninina, career-defining hits, and fan favourites to the stage alongside music from his latest release.
For longtime supporters, the concerts will be an opportunity to reconnect with songs that have grown alongside them. For Vusi Nova, they mark a moment to honour the past while making room for everything still to come.
A new chapter, with the same heart
While the anniversary gives fans a reason to look back, the tour is not simply about nostalgia.
Vusi Nova’s newly released Here to Stay EP signals the next chapter in his creative journey. Featuring songs including “Thandeka” and “Here to Stay”, the project offers a glimpse into where he is musically today while retaining the intimate, emotionally driven storytelling that audiences have come to associate with his work.
The title itself carries a sense of purpose. It speaks to endurance, growth, and the determination to keep moving forward, even as the music industry changes and the years bring new experiences.
“This tour is about celebrating the journey, but it is also about looking forward. Fifteen years in the business of music, ten years of Naninina is a milestone I am incredibly proud of, but I am just as excited about what is still ahead. Here to Stay is exactly that, a reminder that the journey continues,” Vusi Nova says.
Nine nights, eight cities and a country invited to sing along
The journey begins in Emalahleni before moving to Tshwane in November. Cape Town and Gqeberha will each host two nights, giving audiences more opportunities to experience the production and revisit the songs that have helped define Vusi Nova’s career.
The tour then returns in February 2027, travelling to Mangaung and Mbombela before concluding its scheduled run in Durban and East London in March.
HERE TO STAY NATIONAL TOUR DATES
l 17 October 2026 – The Ridge, Emalahleni
l 6 November 2026 – State Theatre, Tshwane
l 13 and 14 November 2026 – City Hall, Cape Town
l 21 and 22 November 2026 – Boardwalk Casino, Gqeberha
l 6 February 2027 – Mangaung
l 20 February 2027 – Mbombela
l 20 March 2027 – Durban
l 27 March 2027 – East London
10 MINUTES WITH VUSI NOVA
Q: How does this tour differ from a regular booking or performance?
Vusi Nova: This is my first tour as an independent artist. I’ve toured before when I was signed to EMI, alongside artists such as Mandoza, Ntando, Kwela Tebza, Zulu Boy, and Rebecca Malope, among many others. But this is my first tour of this kind.
It’s about taking the music to the people, the way I was taught. That doesn’t happen as much anymore. It also gives me the opportunity to perform the music my fans really want to hear, rather than being limited to the 35 or 45 minutes usually allocated to artists on a festival or concert line-up.
Q: What can fans look forward to at the tour?
Vusi Nova: My supporters can expect all the classics they’ve grown to love and relate to. We’re celebrating 10 years of my biggest album, Naninina, so of course, we’ll be singing along to all those songs. I’ll also be performing music from my Here to Stay EP, which people have grown so fond of.
Q: You’ve been in the music industry professionally for about 15 years. What has that journey taught you?
Vusi Nova: I’ve been in the industry professionally for about 15 years, and I’m still going strong. I’ve certainly grown as a person. I’m more mature and wiser because I’ve learned from life’s lessons, including my mistakes. I now have a stronger sense of purpose, and these are some of the lessons and knowledge I want to share.
Q: Ten years have passed since Naninina was released. Looking back at the person and artist you were then, what has changed the most about you?
Vusi Nova: I’ve grown tremendously as a person. I’m more mature and wiser because I’ve learned from life’s lessons, including my mistakes. I have a stronger sense of purpose, and these are some of the lessons and knowledge I want to share.
Q: This year marks a decade of Naninina. Why was it important for you to celebrate this milestone with a new EP and a tour?
Vusi Nova: The significance is that I’m celebrating 10 years of my biggest album, Naninina. I thought, why not release an EP on the exact same day I released that album 10 years ago? It’s also about bringing back the way we used to do things back in the day – going on tour, taking the music to the people, and celebrating with them.
Q: Your new EP is titled Here to Stay. What does that statement mean to you personally, especially after a decade in an ever-changing music industry?
Vusi Nova: The title Here to Stay means so much to me. Firstly, I’ve found my purpose, and that is to share love with the world through music. We’re all going to leave this earth one day, and my biggest fear has always been my name dying with the flesh. Through music, I’ve found something that will allow me to live forever, and that is my music.
I’ve been blessed with the gift of music, and not just music, but timeless music.
Q: As you prepare to perform songs from Naninina alongside your newer material, do you find yourself connecting with the older songs differently now that you’ve experienced more of life?
Vusi Nova: That’s what’s so beautiful about music. You get to be transported back to certain situations and feel those same emotions again, but you also get to understand them better because of ukukhula and the passage of time. With time comes wisdom.
Q: Your music often explores love, heartbreak, and vulnerability. How much of your personal experiences finds its way into your songwriting, and is it difficult to open up through music?
Vusi Nova: Every single song I’ve ever written has been based on a personal experience. The moment I embraced vulnerability, it was liberating for me. I think that’s also why people relate to my music, because these are things we all go through at some point in our lives. It gives people a sense that they’re not alone.
Q: Over the years, what have you learnt about your fans, their loyalty, and the business of music?
Vusi Nova: I’ve learnt that people have so much love, loyalty, and trust because of the music, and I couldn’t feel more blessed.
I’ve also learnt not to focus only on making music, but to pay attention to the business side of things as well. It’s important to build wealth for my loved ones so they can have a platform to realise their dreams earlier, while also passing on the knowledge I’ve gained along the way.
