{"id":880,"date":"2026-05-23T06:09:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T03:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/makhadzi-returns-with-new-album-after-2025-crash-and-10-week-career-break\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T06:09:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T03:09:25","slug":"makhadzi-returns-with-new-album-after-2025-crash-and-10-week-career-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/makhadzi-returns-with-new-album-after-2025-crash-and-10-week-career-break\/","title":{"rendered":"Makhadzi Returns With New Album After 2025 Crash and 10-Week Career Break"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a devastating car crash in December 2025 that nearly derailed her career, South African star Makhadzi took a full 10 weeks away from the stage. In that quiet stretch, she focused on writing new material and rebuilding herself\u2014mentally and creatively\u2014before stepping back into the spotlight.<\/p>\n

Now she\u2019s returning with a brand-new album called Makgadzi Big 30<\/em>. The year-long project is built as a tribute to the obstacles she\u2019s faced, while also driving her forward in her push for a Grammy.<\/p>\n

During her recovery period, she started recording music that mirrors her healing journey. She made her comeback performance in February at SANDF Armed Forces Day in Thohoyandou, marking her first live show since the accident.<\/p>\n

Milestones and the road to Big 30<\/h2>\n

Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, 29 and known to millions as Makhadzi, is set to turn 30 in June. She has already collected 15 awards and racked up more than 25 nominations, with major wins including a BET Award for Best New International Act, a Nickelodeon Kids\u2019 Choice Award for Favourite African Star, multiple SAMAs, Metro FM Awards, and Basadi in Music Awards.<\/p>\n

For her, the homegrown fame is exciting\u2014but the international push is the real mission. \u201cAt home, she’s a star, and at the global stage, she’s coming for more,\u201d is the mindset she\u2019s carrying into her next era.<\/p>\n

Her rise began far from red carpets. At just 12 years old, she was performing as a dancer on the dusty streets of Limpopo, moving to the instrumental beats of DJ Call Me.<\/p>\n

She later explained how the instrumental tracks became her creative fuel: \u201cI used to listen and dance to DJ Call Me’s instrumental beats, which motivated me because most of them had no vocals, so I would also compose my own songs to his beats.\u201d She added that the day she met him, \u201cwe cooked magic,\u201d and that Haka Matorokisi<\/em> was born\u2014describing it as her breakthrough into the industry. She also pointed to a major connection that helped turn into soundtracks, putting Venda music onto national and international playlists.<\/p>\n

Her momentum only grew as songs such as Ghanama<\/em> and Haka Matorokisi<\/em> became standouts, along with releases like African Queen 2.0<\/em>. Those projects helped her secure SAMAs, including Music Video of the Year and Best Traditional Album.<\/p>\n

Still, she says awards weren\u2019t the central goal. \u201cI don’t behave as if I\u2019ve arrived,\u201d she said, stressing that she prefers to carry herself like an emerging artist to stay in the game. \u201cI always behave like I’m an upcoming artist\u2026 because I’m aiming for a Grammy award.\u201d She framed Big 30<\/em> as the way she marks the moment\u2014reflecting on her journey and celebrating her life with \u201cThirty songs for thirty years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album rollout<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. The project is planned as a first stretch of 10 songs.<\/li>\n
  2. An extra track is set to be released in March.<\/li>\n
  3. In June, timed for her birthday and connected to month-long celebrations, the rollout will continue with another set of tracks\u2014bringing the total for that phase to 10 more songs.<\/li>\n
  4. The final phase is scheduled for the festive season releases.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Makgadzi says every song release corresponds to a stage of a journey that hasn\u2019t been smooth. She referenced a period when she wasn\u2019t paid at all, explaining how that kind of pain shaped her future perspective.<\/p>\n

    She described how her feelings evolved over time: \u201cAt first, when someone did me wrong, I got angry because I was still hurting. But now that I’ve grown, I realise I love them so much because they shaped the woman I am.\u201d She added that without those challenges, she wouldn\u2019t be as strong, and without being robbed, she wouldn\u2019t be as wise. \u201cSo I choose not to dwell on the wrong they did as they also had a good side,\u201d she said, crediting them for helping \u201cgroom\u201d her.<\/p>\n

    Finding love, leaning on faith<\/h2>\n

    After being single for a year, Makhadzi says she found love. She shared the memory of how it happened while she was buying cabbage from street vendors in Malamulele. \u201cA handsome man said to me in Tsonga, \u2018I love you,\u2019 and I said, \u2018I love you too,\u2019\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n

    She also emphasized that her faith remains central to her life and work. \u201cGod doesn’t speak to me directly,\u201d she said. \u201cHe uses people to show he exists.\u201d She stressed that the album isn\u2019t only about her\u2014it’s about her journey and \u201chow far he’s brought me,\u201d adding that the journey influences the way she performs.<\/p>\n

    Stage lessons and advice to fans<\/h2>\n

    Makgadzi talked about her approach to performance and how her background shaped her instincts. \u201cI love music with all of my heart, and it’s no secret that I started from the streets,\u201d she said. Before reaching global platforms, she explained that she used to attend concerts and watch other artists, and that she noticed a pattern: \u201cartists brag on stage because they can now afford expensive clothing and flashy nails,\u201d but \u201ctheir biggest mistake is that they forget that people paid to see them perform.\u201d<\/p>\n

    She said she\u2019s determined to give people everything she has. \u201cWhen I’m on stage, I give my audience everything I have. I want them to leave feeling a different energy.\u201d She added that she doesn\u2019t stop for anything, even if something goes wrong during the show. \u201cSo I don’t care if my eyelashes fall off or my earring. I won’t stop; they must not laugh as I’m still performing.\u201d<\/p>\n

    With Big 30<\/em>, she also wants to motivate young women. \u201cThere are girls who depend on men, and there’s nothing wrong with that,\u201d she said. She described one track as encouragement for girls to hustle, but with care. She also offered playful, practical-style guidance: \u201cDon’t wear long, skinny jeans, wear short skirts. And while at it, don\u2019t trip.\u201d She added that \u201cTenderpreneurs with money don’t talk much,\u201d and that you\u2019ll \u201cjust see them on their walk.\u201d<\/p>\n

    On her broader philosophy, she said music has no boundaries. \u201cMusic knows no gender, race or age,\u201d she explained. \u201cMusic is a universal language that combines us regardless of profession. When we’re together during a performance, the aim is to have fun, sing, dance, and become one.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Read more | \u2018I see Lekompo going global\u2019 \u2013 Shandesh rises to stardom like Di Chopper<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    After a devastating car crash in December 2025 that nearly derailed her career, South African star Makhadzi took a full 10 weeks away from the stage. In that quiet stretch, she focused on writing new material and rebuilding herself\u2014mentally and creatively\u2014before stepping back into the spotlight. Now she\u2019s returning with a brand-new album called Makgadzi […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Makhadzi Announces New Album After 2025 Crash Return","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"South African star Makhadzi bounces back from a December 2025 crash with a 10-week break and announces her new album, Makgadzi Big","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-celebrities"],"yoast_head":"\nMakhadzi Announces New Album After 2025 Crash Return<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"South African star Makhadzi bounces back from a December 2025 crash with a 10-week break and announces her new album, Makgadzi Big\" 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Over four years, she helped evolve the platform from a simple blog into one of South Africa\u2019s leading independent entertainment news sites. Following ZAlebs\u2019 transition to Celebrity Worx in 2016, Zibuyile was promoted to Executive Editor, recognized for her sharp audience insight and ability to match editorial with branded content. Highlights of her time include a Bookmark Award nomination, judging TLC\u2019s Next Great Presenter, reporting from the MTV EMAs, and building partnerships with radio stations like YFM, Cliff Central, and Good Hope FM. Her editorial work also expanded to include fast-growing digital verticals\u2014such as lifestyle tech, online entertainment, and gambling-related content\u2014tailored to evolving reader interests and brand opportunities.","sameAs":["https:\/\/za.linkedin.com\/in\/zibuyile-dladla-9a26628a"],"url":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/author\/zibuyile-dladla\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=880"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}