Radio host and vocalist Unathi Nkayi is officially back in the spotlight after a two-year pause, unveiling her latest single, Isikhwele.
Key takeaways
- Unathi Nkayi returns to music with the release of the single Isikhwele after a two-year break.
- The track features kwaito icon Professor alongside emerging talent Meez.
- Unathi says the song delves into the emotional dynamics of jealousy in relationships.
- The accompanying video was creatively directed and executive produced by Unathi as a tribute to Soweto ahead of the June 16 commemorations.
- She is also preparing for her forthcoming album African Love, describing the era as a personal and artistic rebirth.
A jealousy-driven comeback with a story-first approach
On Isikhwele, Unathi teams up with Professor and Meez as she addresses the complicated feelings that can surface inside romantic partnerships—especially jealousy. In speaking about the release, she highlighted how proud she is of the way she has developed creatively, noting the rapid pace of modern life shaped by technology and the “fourth industrial revolution.”
Unathi also explained that she didn’t want to simply drop music and then move on to the next trend. She said she’s built a reputation for sharing deeper narratives, and she wanted this project to mirror that storytelling identity.
She added that she has admired Professor for years and saw Isikhwele as an opportunity to put out something meaningful before her full-length album arrives this spring. Unathi further revealed that she has partnered with Loud In Africa, describing it as a global digital gateway for her upcoming work—one she says will help carry African stories to international audiences.
Speaking about the visual side of the project, Unathi said she leaned into her experience from broadcasting. She wanted to communicate through film rather than just a performance clip, and she described shaping the release through her input on creative direction, the storyline, editing choices, and even styling. Her goal, she said, was to make it clear how her artistry has grown.
“The Isikhwele Series,” Soweto tribute, and upcoming album
Isikhwele arrives with a music video that Unathi creatively directed and executive produced. She framed the visual as a love letter to Soweto, timed for the month marking the June 16 uprising. For the larger rollout, she joined forces with photographer Nick Boulton to capture “The Isikhwele Series,” presenting it as a visual extension of the single and its themes.
The project, Unathi says, reflects both her personal healing and her creative evolution as she looks ahead to her forthcoming album African Love, which she describes as a creative rebirth.
Family loss and a period of creative regulation
Unathi’s return carries extra emotional weight after a difficult chapter in her life. In December 2024, she publicly shared that her father, Sakhiwo Nkayi, had passed away. After the loss, she stepped back to focus on her family.
She later said she hasn’t been in a creative mindset for some time, explaining that the death of her father and her desire to prioritize her children led her to take time to “regulate” herself creatively—before returning with a new era of music and visuals.
