Johannesburg, Tuesday, 21 July 2026 – Award-winning multi-platinum star Zee Nxumalo continues her extraordinary rise as her hit single “Ngisakuthanda” earns two major nominations at the 32nd South African Music Awards (SAMAs). Nominated for Record of the Year and Music Video of the Year, the recognition crowns one of South Africa’s biggest musical success stories of the past two years and reinforces Zee Nxumalo’s position as one of the country’s defining artists of the new generation.
Following a career marked by chart-dominating releases, record-breaking streaming numbers, cultural milestones, and growing international recognition, the nominations reflect an artist whose influence continues to extend far beyond music, shaping contemporary South African popular culture.
“Ngisakuthanda“, one of Zee Nxumalo’s first releases with her long-time label and artist services partner Platoon, has evolved far beyond a hit single into a cultural phenomenon. Anchored by Zee Nxumalo’s emotionally rich vocal performance alongside TBO, and released in September 2024, the Amapiano anthem explores love, vulnerability, forgiveness, and emotional resilience. Its relatable storytelling and infectious production resonated deeply with audiences, transforming the song into one of South Africa’s most successful releases across streaming platforms, radio, social media, and digital culture.
The scale of “Ngisakuthanda’s” impact is evident in the numbers it has amassed across streaming and social platforms. The song has accumulated over 166 million global streams, making it one of the country’s most-consumed records. On TikTok alone, the song has generated more than 518,000 creations, demonstrating its remarkable longevity and continued influence across digital platforms.
Africa’s biggest radio records, enjoying widespread playlist support and sustained national airplay throughout its campaign. The song achieved the highest reach across all radio stations for two consecutive weeks, peaked at No. 1 on the Radiomonitor Top 100 chart, and has remained on the chart for 44 weeks and counting, underscoring its enduring appeal and remarkable staying power. Its crossover success across broadcast, streaming, and social media has established the single as one of the defining records of its era, reaching audiences wherever they discovered music.
Its visual storytelling has proven equally impactful. The official music video has amassed more than 65 million views, while the nominated short film adaptation, released in November 2025, has attracted over 881,000 views. Inspired by the emotional themes of the song, the coming-of-age film explores first love, heartbreak, longing, and self-discovery, expanding “Ngisakuthanda” into a cinematic experience that resonated with audiences well beyond music.
The SAMA recognition arrives during another remarkable chapter in Zee Nxumalo’s career. Fresh from her inclusion on the prestigious Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list, she continues to cement her place as one of Africa’s most influential young creatives. Over the past year, she has also been named one of GLAMOUR South Africa’s Women of the Year, graced the magazine’s December/January 2026 cover, and appeared on the GQ South Africa June/July 2026 Music & Creativity Issue double cover, reflecting her growing influence across music, fashion, and youth culture.
Her commercial achievements have matched her cultural impact. Earlier this year, Spotify recognised Zee Nxumalo as South Africa’s most-streamed female artist of 2025, further cementing her place among the country’s most successful artists. Combined with a multi-platinum catalogue, hundreds of millions of streams, sold-out performances, and an expanding international audience, these milestones reflect an artist whose momentum continues to accelerate with every release.
The dual SAMA nominations for “Ngisakuthanda” transcend the success of a single; they acknowledge a body of work that has connected across generations and platforms. Few South African releases have managed to dominate streaming services, radio playlists, social media conversations, and visual storytelling with the same consistency, making “Ngisakuthanda” one of the defining cultural moments in recent South African music.
With public voting now officially open, fans can support “Ngisakuthanda” in both public-voted SAMA32 categories by SMSing ROTY04 to 32253 for Record of the Year and MVOTY01 to 32253 for Music Video of the Year. Every vote celebrates one of South Africa’s defining musical moments and supports a record that has resonated with millions across streaming platforms, radio, and social media.
As “Ngisakuthanda” continues to resonate with audiences long after its release, the SAMA nominations celebrate a record whose impact extends far beyond the charts. From dominating streaming platforms and inspiring millions of fan-created moments to evolving into an acclaimed cinematic story, the song has become one of the defining South African releases of its generation.
Connect with Zee Nxumalo:
Instagram: @zeenxumalo
TikTok: @zeenxumalo
Facebook: Zee Nxumalo
About Zee Nxumalo:
Zee Nxumalo is a South African vocalist and songwriter whose work is defined by emotional precision, cultural resonance, and a seamless fusion of Afro-pop storytelling with Amapiano’s rhythmic pulse. Rising from a viral TikTok breakout to a multi-platinum artist, she has established herself at the forefront of the country’s contemporary dance music landscape. Drawing from themes of love, identity, and personal evolution, her music moves effortlessly between digital virality and real-world impact, with standout releases like “Mamma” reinforcing her ability to shape cultural moments. With a growing global audience, major brand collaborations, and over 300 million streams to her name, she continues building a body of work that is as widely resonant as it is distinctly her own.
About Platoon:
The multi-award and GRAMMY® winning label Platoon was acquired by Apple in 2018. The boutique artist-services company identifies groundbreaking talent from around the world, while providing invaluable and innovative tools and services to build their careers and reach new fans. Platoon landed its first success shortly after its inception when it signed the then-unknown Billie Eilish, laying the groundwork for her ascent to global stardom, alongside other household names such as Mr Eazi and Victoria Monét. Current signings include Saint Harison, Lenny Tavárez, RZA, Khaid, Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dalia Stasevska, and more.