BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – Another hit collaboration in the bag.
Nhlonipho Lihle Dlamini has collaborated with South African singer and songwriter Azana on a song titled Popile.
The song is from the latest Extended Playlist (EP), titled Selemo. Another song, Ngikhethe Wena, featuring Simmy and Citizen Deep, is also from the same EP.
When reached for comment, Nhlonipho said, “Working with Azana is amazing. I feel like we understand each other. The song actually dropped last November,” shared Dlamini.
Azana was born Makhosazana Princess Masango 23 years ago in Chersterville, KwaZulu Natal (KZN). Her music career began when she was 15. She signed a contract with Big City Dreams. Her first studio album, titled Ingoma, debuted at number one in SA in 2020. Its lead single, “Your Love was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).
Nhlonipho is a music producer, singer, and pianist who was born in Mankayane, Eswatini, where his passion for music was sparked. His musical journey began at home, where he was inspired by his mother, a teacher who conducted choirs and taught him choral music at a young age. He won his first solo competition when he joined his primary school’s choir and later received five tenor soloist trophies in high school and college. He studied music in 2015 and now holds a Diploma in Music Performance (piano) and a Diploma in Civil Engineering.
His musical career led him to work with renowned South African and international artists such as Luyolo, Yiba, Thando Mngomezulu, Shuffle Muzik, Zintle, Kwaaiman, Nathi Mankayi, Amanda Mankayi, Samthing Soweto, Citizen Deep, Amanda Black, Nathan Blur, Siyakha Khitha, Wanda Zonke, Anele and Neliswa, The Soweto Central Chorus, Bakhe Dlamini, and Nhlakanipho Dlamini.
His career highlights include
- Featured on “Ok Morda” by Morda and DJ Zinhle
- Featured on “Phendula Imithandzo” and “Mdali,” alongside Mjakes the Producer
- Produced the singles iThuba, OSKIDO, and Yallunder.
- Executive Producer on the Yithi Soke EP with Robot Boii
- Featured on Sizobambana with Mthandazo Gatya
- Featured on Woza Sambe with Mörda
- Featured on Joy with AB Crazy
- Released Life I Got EP featuring hit singles; Uzanini and Life I Got featuring
- Produced MAPOPO EP, the first Tanzanian-South African collaboration project.
- Released the Life I Got EP featuring hit singles Uzanini and Life I Got featuring Manu WorldStar.
- Produced a track called “Umile” on Citizen Deep’s brand-new EP (ARCADE).
- Produced and featured on Damian Soul’s #1 song in Tanzania (Mapopo).
- Produced and featured on 2 tracks on the Mthandazo Gatya hit EP (UMONDE).
Produced and featured on three tracks on Shuffle Muzik’s Sgubhu Sa Mapiano.
