Samthing Soweto

Bio

Samthing Soweto, born Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba in 1988, grows up in Protea North, Soweto, and co-founds the a cappella group The Soil — unaccompanied singing chosen partly because instruments were beyond the members' means. He later fronts the nu-jazz band The Fridge before going solo, carrying a supple falsetto that moves easily between soul, vocal harmony and amapiano's log-drum pulse.

His 2017 feature on Sun-El Musician's 'Akanamali' is the commercial breakthrough; 'Akulaleki' with Sha Sha tops Apple Music South Africa and is certified gold. The debut album Isphithiphithi (2019) goes platinum and wins Best Afro-Pop Album at the 26th South African Music Awards. After a long recording silence, he returns in July 2025 with Touch Is a Move: Good Morning, a concept album structured as a single day in 1990s Soweto, narrated by his five-year-old self.

Verified facts

• Was a founding member of the a cappella group The Soil and later fronted the nu-jazz band The Fridge before establishing his solo career.Wikipedia
• His debut solo studio album Isphithiphithi (2019) was certified platinum and won Best Afro-Pop Album at the 26th South African Music Awards.Wikipedia
• 'Akulaleki' featuring Sha Sha reached number one on Apple Music South Africa and was certified gold; his 2017 feature on Sun-El Musician's 'Akanamali' was his commercial breakthrough.Wikipedia
• Released the album Touch Is a Move: Good Morning in July 2025 — his first full-length since Isphithiphithi — structured as a day in 1990s Soweto narrated by his five-year-old self.TheJournalistDJ
• Born Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba on 21 January 1988, he was raised in Protea North, Soweto, the third of four children brought up by a single mother.Wikipedia
• The Soil performed a cappella in part because the group could not afford instruments, by his own account.Wikipedia

Notable work

• Isphithiphithi (2019)
• Akulaleki (feat. Sha Sha)
• AmaDM (DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small feat. Samthing Soweto)
• Akanamali (Sun-El Musician feat. Samthing Soweto)
• Touch Is a Move: Good Morning (2025)

Categories

Music & Links