After spending years away from live performance because of epilepsy, kwaito icon Zola 7 is stepping back into the spotlight with new music.
Quick facts
- Zola 7, whose real name is Bonginkosi Dlamini, released “She Nailed It (Amazipho)” on Friday, 1 August.
- The single arrived via ONErpm and is his first solo release in several years.
- He debuted the track live at the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival in Eswatini on Saturday, 1 August.
- The 49-year-old artist has been managing epilepsy and taking extended periods of rest.
The kwaito veteran, born Bonginkosi Dlamini, issued “She Nailed It (Amazipho)” through ONErpm on Friday, 1 August. The release follows a prolonged period in which poor health kept him away from the music scene.
Zola 7 first became widely known through the television drama Yizo Yizo, then launched his recording career with the single “Mdlwembe” more than 20 years ago. His influence, however, has extended far beyond music.
He later hosted the unscripted programme Zola 7, travelling around South Africa and visiting villages and townships without a prepared script. By opening doors and sharing the stories of people achieving remarkable things, he gave everyday South Africans a national platform.
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Across both his songs and television work, Zola 7 has confronted issues that are frequently left unspoken, including poverty, mental health, schooling and recovery.
Health, rest and the comeback
While building his career, the performer was also dealing with a serious personal health challenge.
He explained that the years when he was not making music were largely spent unwell because he has epilepsy. Much of that time was passed in bed, as the condition required him to prioritise regular rest.
When his condition allowed, he travelled back to Soweto to spend time with his children and relatives. Eventually, his team managed to persuade him to return to the recording studio.
Zola 7 said that staying home, eating properly and avoiding long drives were essential to his recovery. His illness was so limiting that he stopped performing and was unable to attend gigs.
“She Nailed It (Amazipho)” was produced by Almotie Mtombeni, better known as Alie Keys. The track honours women who overcome hardship, celebrates the small victories of daily life and encourages people to pursue their ambitions without fear.
Zola 7 said he had waited until he found the right collaborator before making the song with Alie Keys. He described the finished record as wonderful and said he was thrilled to release it.
The singer performed the track publicly for the first time on Saturday, 1 August, at the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival in Eswatini. It was his first appearance in the kingdom since October 2023, before illness brought his touring schedule to a halt.
With his return to the road now under way, Zola 7 acknowledged that the schedule would be demanding. He said he needed to reconnect with many people within a short period as his touring commitments gathered pace.
Advice for the next generation
Although his own studio is not currently operating at full capacity, Zola 7 remains interested in guiding emerging performers. He believes, however, that artists should combine creative talent with formal education.
His advice is for musicians in this era to pursue tertiary studies, pointing to institutions in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. While acknowledging the expense, he said artists need qualifications and official documentation to protect and support themselves.
He also encouraged young creatives to adapt to an industry that is becoming increasingly digital, while raising concerns about artificial intelligence. In his view, it is unfair that people can now produce designs such as logos instantly after others have spent more than four years studying for that profession.
When it comes to musical styles, the veteran is keeping his options open. He said he would consider an Amapiano collaboration if a young performer approached him respectfully, but he would first need to know and understand that artist.
He also made one promise about the genre: he intends to record at least one Amapiano song before he dies.
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