At just 22 years old, Zandile Nxumalo — professionally known as Zee Nxumalo — is fast becoming one of the most compelling voices in South Africa’s amapiano movement. Hailing from a Swazi-South African background, Zee is capturing hearts and topping charts with sultry vocals and infectious energy on tracks like Ngisakuthanda, all while amassing millions of streams.
Her momentum is undeniable. Zee leads the nominations at the upcoming Basadi in Music Awards, with four nods recognizing her meteoric rise. Adding to her growing list of achievements, she recently bought a luxury car and bagged her first international feature with Romanian stars Raluka and millforlife on the cross-cultural banger In & Out, currently making waves across Eastern Europe.
Speaking to TRUELOVE magazine while on the road, Zee revealed how intentional she’s become about her career:
“There’s no longer time to spare for things that don’t make sense. We have to be super intentional about how we spend our time.”
Navigating fame hasn’t been without its lessons. Zee has become a household name in the amapiano genre, a space known for its hypnotic beats and youthful energy. With growing fame, she’s learning to embrace time management, self-discipline, and humility.
“Remaining true to myself is a big lesson. I’m still learning. Two years ago, planning and time management weren’t that important — but now, they’re everything,” she said.
Zee also counts both peers and veterans as inspirations — looking up to rising star Naledi Aphiwe for her talent and to DJ Maphorisa for his consistency and authenticity.
Not all fame is glamour. Recently, Zee faced online criticism after a red carpet video surfaced showing what some believed was a cold interaction with veteran actress and singer Thembi Seete. Zee quickly clarified:
“She was the one who even called me to the red carpet. But I saw the video — it doesn’t look great. This is an opinion-based industry. People will always have something to say.”
But for Zee, the music is what matters most. With collaborations alongside Pabi Cooper, Tyler ICU, and Dlala Thukzin, her creative process is rooted in instinct and authenticity:
“The beat guides me. I freestyle a lot — I allow myself to just be Zee Nxumalo.”
With talent, drive, and humility, Zee is not just making music — she’s making history.
