Mafikizolo

Mafikizolo, a prominent South African Afro-pop music group, released their self-titled debut album Mafikizolo in 1997, marking the beginning of a highly successful career. Composed of Theo Kgosinkwe and lead singer Nhlanhla Mafu, the group quickly gained recognition with singles such as ‘Ndihamba Nawe’ and ‘Kwela Kwela.’ This early success was followed by their 1999 album, Music Revolution. Their 2000 release, Gate Crashers, became a top-selling album, featuring popular hits like ‘Lotto’ and ‘Majika.’ Mafikizolo continued their prolific output with Sibongile in 2002, which included the hit single ‘Ndihamba Nawe,’ and Kwela in 2003, featuring a notable collaboration with legendary musician Hugh Masekela. After a period of hiatus following the passing of group member Tebogo Madingoane in 2004, Mafikizolo reunited to release their internationally acclaimed single ‘Khona’ in 2013, featuring Uhuru.

This commemorative project featured the track ‘Love Potion’ and a collaboration with Nigerian star Yemi Alade on ‘Ofana Nawe.’ Their sustained excellence was further recognized at the 24th South African Music Awards in 2018, where they won Duo/Group of the Year, Best Afro-pop album, and Best Engineered Album. Mafikizolo also received a nomination for Best Live Act at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2016. Demonstrating their continued impact, Mafikizolo released the single ‘Mamezala’ featuring Simmy in November 2021, which quickly climbed to number 9 on the Radio Monitor Charts. Their twelfth studio album, Idwala, followed on August 26, 2022, showcasing collaborations with artists like Sjava on the track ’10k.’ Most recently, the group was honored with the Best Duo/Group award at the African Entertainment Awards USA in 2024.

Throughout their distinguished career, Mafikizolo has amassed an impressive 14 South African Music Awards and two MTV Africa Music Awards, solidifying their status as one of Africa’s most influential musical acts.