Umafikizolo

Bio

Umafikizolo is Khethukuthula Mhlongo, a maskandi singer from uMnambithi — Ladysmith — in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, 24 years old as of late 2025 and one of the genre's youngest chart presences. He records for the Insika Yethonga label, and his EP Uyoncengwa Unyoko — four tracks in eighteen minutes, released on 31 July 2025 — is maskandi in its classic shape: guitar-led, conversational, rooted in Zulu storytelling.

The title track does the heavy lifting: 19 million YouTube views inside three months and a dance challenge that carries it far beyond maskandi's usual circuit. In December 2025 he becomes the first Zulu maskandi artist nominated simultaneously in the year-end song-of-the-year competitions of both Ukhozi FM and Umhlobo Wenene FM — a measure of how far one EP can travel in a single season.

Verified facts

• Real name Khethukuthula Mhlongo, a 24-year-old maskandi artist from uMnambithi in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (as of December 2025).Daily Sun
• The Uyoncengwa Unyoko EP was released on 31 July 2025 under the Insika Yethonga label: four tracks, 18 minutes, listed as maskandi.Apple Music
• The title track drew 19 million YouTube views within three months of release and spawned a viral dance challenge.Daily Sun
• In December 2025 he became the first Zulu maskandi artist nominated simultaneously in Ukhozi FM's and Umhlobo Wenene FM's year-end song-of-the-year competitions.Daily Sun

Notable work

• Uyoncengwa Unyoko
• Uyoncengwa Unyoko (EP)
• Ngathi Nguye

Categories

Music & Links