Umafikizolo Eyes Historic Win on Mzansi’s Biggest Radio Stations

Maskandi star Umafikizolo, the 24-year-old musician from Umnambithi in the KZN Midlands, is making waves with his hit song Uyoncengwa Unyoko and its viral dance challenge. The track has captured the attention of music fans across South Africa and is now in contention for year-end honors on two of Mzansi’s biggest radio stations.

Uyoncengwa Unyoko is nominated on Ukhozi FM’s highly contested year-end crossover top ten, known as Ingoma Ehlukanisa Unyaka, and on Umhlobo Wenene’s year-end crossover top ten, Ingoma Yonyaka. Winning songs, voted for by the public, are played during the year crossover, reaching millions of listeners and ushering in the new year.

Khethukuthula Mhlongo, known professionally as Umafikizolo, told Daily Sun that he feels 2025 could be his breakthrough year. “This is my time to top the charts and make Mzansi dance with my challenge. I believe if it’s my time to win the year-end crossover top, let it be. I trust that people will vote for my song and I’m grateful that my brand is growing faster. I hope that I’ll get all the prizes that I deserve,” he said.

A win on both radio stations would be historic. No maskandi musician has ever simultaneously won the year-end crossover on Ukhozi FM and Umhlobo Wenene. Previous winners on Ukhozi FM include Mroza Fakude, Ntencane, Khuzani, and Mthandeni, while Khuzani remains the only maskandi and Zulu artist to have won Umhlobo Wenene’s competition, which primarily serves Xhosa audiences. Umafikizolo is the first Zulu maskandi artist to be nominated on both platforms at the same time.

He reflected on his journey, saying that as a child, it was his dream to have a song played on multiple radio stations. Achieving nominations on both Ukhozi FM and Umhlobo Wenene is a milestone for him.

Umafikizolo’s rise is also reflected in digital streaming. Spotify recently named him as one of the maskandi stars dominating its platform, while Uyoncengwa Unyoko reached 19 million views on YouTube within three months of release. The track’s infectious dance challenge has made it a cultural phenomenon, further solidifying Umafikizolo as one of South Africa’s leading young maskandi talents.

With public votes determining the winners, Umafikizolo’s historic double win could rewrite maskandi history and mark 2025 as a defining year in his career.