Big Zulu

• 1. Introduction

  ›

  Big Zulu, born Siyabonga Nene on the 7th of April 1986, spent years as a taxi driver. The idea of a music career was something he had to work his way toward. He quit the taxi industry in 2008 and within a decade had become one of the most recognizable names in South African hip-hop. His debut single, "Donsa Nkabi," arrived in 2016 and introduced him to a national audience. What shaped the voice behind that song? And how did a man from Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, travel from there to the biggest stages in the country? Those questions trace back to the specific music he grew up hearing there.

  2578

• 2. Sounds of Bergville

  ›

  Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Phuzekemisi, and Imithente were the artists whose music surrounded Siyabonga Nene during his childhood in Bergville. Maskandi, rooted in Zulu guitar traditions, and Isichathamiya, a form of close-harmony a cappella singing, were the two styles he absorbed before writing a single lyric. He later moved to Palm Springs in the Vaal, far from the KwaZulu-Natal of his early years. Those musical roots traveled with him into a career that was still taking shape when 2009 arrived.

  1952

• 3. From Competition to Contract

  ›

  In 2009, Zulu began writing songs and performing. Four years later, in 2013, he entered the Red Bull Back to the City competition. He won, becoming the first person to claim that title. Two years later, in 2015, a deal with Universal Music Records followed.

  7256

• 4. The First Albums

  ›

  July 2018 brought Zulu's debut album, Ushun Wenkabi, with singles including "Ang'mazi umama" and "Home." His second album, Ungqongqoshe Wongqongqoshe, arrived in 2019. It brought together Kwesta, Cassper Nyovest, FiFi Cooper, Ab Crazy, Mnqobi Yazo, Musiholiq, and Truhitz as featured artists. The single "Ama Million," featuring Cassper Nyovest and Musiholiq, peaked at number five on the iTunes chart and was certified platinum. "Vuma Dlozi," featuring Mnqobi Yazo, was also certified platinum, with sales of 50,000 copies. The album itself was certified gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa. It earned a nomination at the South African Music Awards for Best Hip Hop Album. At the South African Hip Hop Awards, it was nominated for Best Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. That same year, 2019, Zulu founded Inkabi Records, his own label. The artists he would sign to it would become central to everything that followed.

  911121617

• 5. Ichwane Lenyoka

  ›

  On the 20th of November 2020, "Mali Eningi" was released with Intaba Yase Dubai and Ricky Rick on the track. It debuted at number two on Channel 0's Top 30 charts and was certified double platinum. At the 27th South African Music Awards, "Mali Eningi" took the Best Collaboration category. By the end of 2020, MTV Base had placed Zulu fifth on its Hottest MCs list for South Africa. It was his first appearance on that ranking.

  On the 11th of March 2021, Zulu released "Inhlupheko," featuring Mduduzi Ncube. It went to number one on South African iTunes and reached number four on Shazam. "Umuzi eSandton," featuring Lwah Ndlunkulu, was announced on the 3rd of July 2021 and released six days later. That single topped the Shazam charts.

  Ichwane Lenyoka, the album behind all three singles, came out on the 3rd of September 2021. Ten days later, on the 13th of September, Zulu performed on Season 14 of Idols South Africa. At the 2021 South African Hip Hop Awards, he collected seven awards: Album of the Year, Song of the Year for "Mali Eningi," and Best Music Video. He also won Best Male, Ubuntu Activism Award, Best Collaboration, and Best Digital Sales. By the end of 2021, MTV Base had ranked him second on its Hottest MCs list. He had entered that list at fifth place just a year before.

  On the 11th of February 2022, "iVolovolo" with Xowla debuted at number one in South Africa, pointing toward the collective enterprise Inkabi Records was assembling.

  2122252629

• 6. Building an Empire

  ›

  Mduduzi Ncube, Lwah Ndlunkulu, Xowla, and Siya Ntuli were the artists Zulu formally brought into Inkabi Records. On the 24th of June 2022, all four joined him on "Voicemail." That single went gold and reached number one in South Africa. On the 20th of August, "150 Bars (Ke hip hop Dawg)" entered the local radio Top 10 at number seven. The collaborative album Inkabi Nation arrived on the 9th of September 2022. On the 25th of November, "Dear My Love," featuring K.O, Xowla, and Siya Ntuli, was also released.

  On the 17th of March 2023, Big Zulu and Sjava announced they were working on a joint album as a duo called Inkabi Zezwe. Their lead single, "Umbayimbayi," came out on the 24th of March 2023. It debuted at number one on both the iTunes Top 50 and the Spotify Top 100 in South Africa. The song was certified three times platinum. Their album, Ukhamba, was released on the 12th of May 2023. It debuted at number one in South Africa and in Eswatini. The 17th Metro FM Music Awards recognized Inkabi Zezwe as Best Duo or Group. A tour ran from June through September of 2023.

  Away from the studio, Zulu partnered with Spitz as a brand ambassador for Carvela in August 2020. The following year, on the 21st of September 2021, he donated laptops and printers to Obonjaneni Primary School. He had also appeared in television programs including Isibaya, One Mic from 2017 to 2020, Uzalo, and Isithembiso. In June 2024, he joined the talent search show Ushuni Womhlaba as a judge. The show premiered on SABC 1 on the 7th of July 2024.

  His fourth studio album, Icala Le Mpumelelo, arrived on the 11th of April 2025. Earlier that year, on the 7th of March, "Abazazi Bafunani" with Emtee had debuted at number one on Spotify in South Africa. A collaborative album with Nkabikazi, titled Undodakazi, followed on the 10th of October 2025. His discography already lists a further studio album, Umkhulu, for 2026.

  4345465163