Things To Know About Inkabi Zezwe

Things To Know About Inkabi Zezwe

In 2022, Sjava and Big Zulu created the South African collaboration Inkabi Zezwe. In South Africa, their first single “Umbayimbayi” sold at number one and earned a 4× Platinum certification.

In South Africa and Eswatini, their first studio album, Ukhamba (2023), launched at number one in successive weeks. Big Zulu (Siyabonga Nene) and Sjava (born Jabulani Hadebe) established Inkabi Zezwe in 2022 and signed a recording agreement with Warner Music for their a single collaborative album. On March 17, 2023, Big Zulu and Sjava announced that they were working on a joint album called Ukhamba. The album’s lead single, “Umbayimbayi,” dropped on March 24, 2023, and it launched at number one on both the Spotify Top 100 and iTunes Top 50 South Africa. The song achieved 3× Platinum in South Africa. Zulu declared on April 1 that the Inkabi Zezwe tour would take place between June and September of 2023.

On May 12, 2023, their first studio album was made available. It made its #1 debuts in South Africa and Eswatini in quick succession. Warner Music Africa announced a collaboration with Lacuna Creative Studios on July 15, 2023, to manage afterwards for the six part documentary series Inkabi Zezwe, which follows the creation of Sjava and Big Zulu’s studio album Ukhamba.

Awards for Content Creator

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2023	“Umbayimbayi”	Song of the Year	Nominated

Metro FM Honor

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2024	Ukhamba	Best African Pop	Nominated
		Best Produced Album	Nominated
	“Umbayimbayi”	Best Collaboration	Nominated
	Themselves	Best Duo/Group	Nominated

FM Awards, the Metro South African Traditional and Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2023	“Umbayimbayi”	Most Voted Song of the Year	Nominated

South African Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2024	“Umbayimbayi”	Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year	Pending
	Ukhamba	Best Afro-Pop album	Pending