Just a few months after its release, Zee Nxumalo’s hit collaboration with Pabi Cooper and 031Choppa, “Thula Mabota,” has been certified platinum in South Africa. This milestone marks the 21-year-old Afropop and Amapiano prodigy’s first-ever platinum certification as a lead artist, with sales exceeding 40,000 units. Recently, Zee also received official multi-platinum certifications for her contributions to the hit singles “Nguwe” and “Funk 55.”
Zee Nxumalo expressed her excitement: “This means a lot to me because a lot of my early success has been on other people’s music, so I’m really happy to have been able to prove to people—and most importantly to myself—that I could also be the lead artist on a big song,” she shares. “I want to also shout out Pabi Cooper, Choppa, and Shakes & Les for working with me on this song and sharing this moment with me.”
Zee Nxumalo’s manager, Shingai Darangwa, added, “This is the first release from Zee’s upcoming album, and we are hoping that this sets the tone for what we believe will be one of the best albums to come out of SA in a long time. She’s dynamic, fun, and incredibly talented. We feel confident that she has the package to grow into a true global export over the coming months. There’s also a lot more exciting work being done behind the scenes that we’re looking forward to sharing with her fans soon.”
The music video for “Thula Mabota,” which dropped just three weeks ago, has already amassed nearly 800,000 streams on YouTube. This success comes as Zee’s recent collaboration with Dlala Thukzin, “Ama Gear,” begins to gain traction globally.
Since her breakthrough in 2023 with the hit single “Pholile,” alongside Azana and Mlindo The Vocalist, Zee Nxumalo has quickly captivated the music scene with her infectious rhythms and soulful melodies. She continued to blaze a trail across the charts with standout features on “Funk 55,” “Shayimoto,” and “Nguwe.”
Entering 2024 with the industry’s gaze firmly upon her, Zee has solidified her status as a musical force with the release of “Thula Mabota.” This new track has elevated her from a rising star to a continental sensation. With a new project on the horizon, Zee is poised to emerge as South Africa’s next bona fide global star sooner rather than later.
