Gospel sensation Nontokozo Mkhize has made history with her hit single ‘Esandleni’, becoming the most-streamed solo song by a female artist in a single week on Spotify South Africa—surpassing Adele’s ‘Easy on Me’.
The track has also:
- Entered the top five on the Local Streaming Chart Top 10
- Ranked in the top 10 on Billboard South Africa
- Surpassed 3 million streams
Mkhize, overwhelmed by the achievement, shared her gratitude on Instagram, quoting a Bible verse:
“And the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind… TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!!!!”
‘Lindiwe’ Album Ties with Tyla’s Record-Breaking Debut
Mkhize’s debut studio album ‘Lindiwe’ is also making waves. The album:
- Earned over 1 million streams in its first week on Spotify South Africa
- Tied with Tyla’s album ‘TYLA’ for the highest first-week entry for a debut studio album by a South African female artist
This milestone cements Mkhize’s status as one of the fastest-rising stars in the South African music industry.
From Backing Vocalist to Record-Breaking Star
Mkhize, whose real name is Nontokozo Hlengwa, began her music career in 2017 as a backing vocalist.
She worked with big names in the industry, including:
🎵 Benjamin Dube
🎵 Mondli Ngcobo
🎵 Naima Kay
🎵 Dumi Mkokstad
🎵 Sjava
Her big break came in May 2024, when she won Best Newcomer at the Metro FM Music Awards.
“I couldn’t believe it! Winning this award was beyond my expectations. I only started my solo career last year,” Mkhize told IOL Entertainment.
Her solo career skyrocketed after releasing ‘Lu Strong’, a collaboration with Nomfundo Moh. She also featured on Sjava’s album ‘Isibuko’ on the track ‘Thixo’.
A Bright Future Ahead
With record-breaking streams, chart success, and industry recognition, Nontokozo Mkhize is solidifying her place as one of South Africa’s most influential gospel artists.