Hit Single Earns Two Major SAMA Nods
Award-winning, multi-platinum artist Zee Nxumalo has added another milestone to her remarkable career after her smash hit “Ngisakuthanda” received two nominations at the 32nd South African Music Awards (SAMA32).
The chart-topping single has been nominated in the Record of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories, cementing Zee Nxumalo’s status as one of South Africa’s most influential artists of the new generation.
The recognition comes after two years of sustained commercial success, cultural impact, and growing international acclaim that have positioned the singer among the country’s leading musical exports.
A Song That Became a Cultural Phenomenon
Released in September 2024 through Zee Nxumalo’s long-time label and artist services partner Platoon, “Ngisakuthanda” quickly evolved from a hit song into a cultural movement.
Featuring TBO, the emotionally driven Amapiano anthem explores themes of love, forgiveness, vulnerability, and emotional resilience. Its heartfelt storytelling and infectious production struck a chord with audiences, helping it dominate streaming platforms, radio stations, and social media.
Streaming Numbers Reflect Massive Success
The commercial performance of “Ngisakuthanda” has been nothing short of extraordinary.
The single has surpassed 166 million global streams, making it one of South Africa’s most-streamed songs. On TikTok, it has inspired more than 518,000 user-generated creations, highlighting its continued popularity and longevity in digital culture.
The song also became one of Africa’s biggest radio successes, reaching No. 1 on the Radiomonitor Top 100 chart, achieving the highest radio audience reach for two consecutive weeks, and remaining on the chart for 44 weeks and counting.
Visual Storytelling Extends the Song’s Legacy
Beyond its musical success, “Ngisakuthanda” has made an impact through its visual storytelling.
The official music video has accumulated more than 65 million views, while the short film adaptation, released in November 2025, has attracted over 881,000 views.
Inspired by the song’s emotional narrative, the coming-of-age film explores themes of first love, heartbreak, longing, and self-discovery, expanding the record into a cinematic experience that resonated with audiences beyond music.
Another Landmark Year for Zee Nxumalo
The SAMA nominations arrive during a standout period in Zee Nxumalo’s career.
She was recently named to the prestigious Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list and has continued to build her influence beyond music. Over the past year, she was recognised as one of GLAMOUR South Africa’s Women of the Year, appeared on the magazine’s December/January 2026 cover, and featured on the GQ South Africa June/July 2026 Music & Creativity Issue double cover.
Earlier this year, Spotify also named her South Africa’s most-streamed female artist of 2025, adding another accolade to a career already marked by multi-platinum releases, sold-out performances, and an expanding global fanbase.
Fans Invited to Vote
Public voting for SAMA32 is now officially open.
Fans can vote for “Ngisakuthanda” by SMSing ROTY04 to 32253 for Record of the Year and MVOTY01 to 32253 for Music Video of the Year.
A Defining South African Record
The dual SAMA32 nominations represent more than the success of a single song—they recognise a body of work that has connected with audiences across multiple generations and platforms.
From dominating streaming services and radio airwaves to inspiring hundreds of thousands of fan-created moments and evolving into a celebrated short film, “Ngisakuthanda” has established itself as one of the defining South African music releases of its generation, with its influence continuing to grow long after its initial release.
