BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE: Eswatini, are you ready to be blown away?
Local artists Nhlonipho Lihle Dlamini and Afro singer Velemiseni had a studio session last night where they worked on new music.
The artist’s studio session was at Antidote Studios. Dlamini shared with this publication that they are working on two songs that don’t have a title yet as they are still cooking them in the studio. “We don’t have titles for the songs yet, as we only had a session last night.” He stated that they will announce the title projects as soon as they are complete.
Dlamini is fresh from sharing the stage with the South African choir Soweto Central Choir last month at Rhema Bible Church in Randburg. Dlamini shared that the show was dubbed Soweto Central Chorus and Friends, featuring Khaya Mthetwa, Black Mambazo, and Kekelingo. The show was held in South Africa.
He recently had a collaboration with Aubrey Qwana on an album titled Jola. In his musical career, he has also worked 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.
Nhlonipho is a music producer, singer, and pianist born in Mankayane, Eswatini, where his passion for music was sparked.
When asked about his journey, he said, “My musical journey began at home, where I was inspired by my mother, a teacher who conducted choirs and taught me choral music at a young age. I won my first solo competition when I joined the primary school’s choir and later received five TenorSoloist trophies in high school and college.”
He further shared that he studied music in 2015 and now holds a Diploma in Music Performance (piano) and a Diploma in Civil Engineering. “I relocated to Johannesburg in 2015, where I work as a lecturer in music theory and keyboard technique at Digmac Media College in Braamfontein, which has taught me a lot of patience. Working as a teacher has made me realise that people have different strengths, and you need to make sure that everyone in your class moves at the same pace.”
Nhlonipho’s 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 the Life I Got EP, featuring hit singles Uzanini and Life I Got.
- 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.
