THE FUSE

Award-winning singer Zee Nxumalo has reached another major milestone in her career after being featured on the cover of Forbes Africa’s prestigious 30 Under 30 list for 2026.

The 23-year-old star has become one of South Africa’s biggest music success stories, and her latest achievement is proof of how far she has come in a short space of time.

Sharing the news on Instagram, Forbes Africa reflected on Nxumalo’s musical journey, which started with recording covers before she eventually developed her own unique sound.

“Zandile ‘Zee’ Nxumalo’s journey started with covers that eventually led to Amapiano fans calling for her to create her own sound.

“Making covers was the easiest part of my career,” Numalo says in an interview with FORBES AFRICA. “It did not intimidate me. But creating my own sound, the ‘Zee’ sound, has been the most fun.”

Known for blending Afropop storytelling with the energetic rhythms of Amapiano and contemporary dance influences, Nxumalo has built a sound that resonates with fans across the country and beyond. Her music has become a favourite on dance floors, helping her establish herself as one of the leading voices in South African music.

According to Forbes Africa, Nxumalo’s success has been remarkable. The publication noted that she amassed more than 100 million streams across music platforms in the past year alone. This achievement made her the most-streamed local artist in South Africa and further strengthened her influence in the region’s music industry.

Reacting to the exciting news on X, Nxumalo could hardly contain her emotions. She simply wrote: “Pinch me,” followed by a crying emoji.

The singer’s streaming numbers continue to show her growing popularity. She currently has more than two million monthly listeners on Spotify. Her hit song Ngisakuthanda has accumulated over 30 million streams, while Mamma has surpassed 16 million streams.

Nxumalo’s Forbes Africa cover comes shortly after another career highlight. Earlier this month, she performed at the 2026 Red Bull Symphonic event, which took place on June 13 and 14 at the Montecasino Outdoor Arena in Johannesburg. The event featured Sun-El Musician and Dlala Thukzin, who became the first two headliners to share a single Red Bull Symphonic South Africa stage.

From posting covers online to becoming a chart-topping artist and now a Forbes Africa cover star, Zee Nxumalo continues to prove that she is one of South Africa’s brightest young talents.

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