Mawelele Releases Highly Anticipated Album PGLTM and Announces His First South African Live Tour

The 16-track project features Kwesta, Olivetheboy, Nomfundo Moh and more, with live performances set for Durban and Johannesburg in December.

South African singer-songwriter and pianist Mawelele releases his highly anticipated 16-track album, PGLTM (Pretty Girls Listen To Mawelele), today with gamma. Centred on love, reassurance, forgiveness and second chances, the project captures a deeply personal chapter in Mawelele’s musical journey and his desire to make love feel intentional in a world that can often feel hard.

Blending soulful R&B and Afro-pop with heartfelt songwriting, PGLTM explores the different stages of love, from the excitement of new feelings to heartbreak, reconciliation and the hope of finding something genuine. The album speaks to the lovers, the heartbroken, the hopeful and everyone still willing to believe in love.

The project features an impressive line-up of collaborators, including Olivetheboy, Kwesta, Danya Devs, Nomfundo Moh, Ndu Browns, Tony Dayimane, Usimamane and Empro. Together, the collaborations bring different voices and perspectives to a project that keeps Mawelele’s own approach to love and relationships at its centre.

Building momentum ahead of the album’s release, Mawelele’s “Ngiyaz’fela” featuring Kwesta reached No. 3 on the Radio Monitor Top 100 Airplay Chart. Produced by Kinglee Beats, the soulful R&B/Afro-pop single translates to “I’m in love with you” and celebrates the beauty of expressing your feelings. Its music video reached one million views within four days of release and has since climbed to 1.7 million views on YouTube.

Meanwhile, “All My Life”, Mawelele and Kwesta’s previous collaboration, has surpassed 4.1 million Apple Music streams, 19.7 million Spotify streams and 23 million YouTube views. 

For Mawelele, PGLTM is the culmination of nearly a year spent putting his heart, healing and personal experiences into music, with a message that extends beyond the songs themselves.

“This album is very personal to me. It took almost a year to put together, a year of pouring my heart, my healing, and my truth into every record. At its core, it’s about love, reassurance, forgiveness and second chances,” says Mawelele.

“With PGLTM, I wanted to make love cool again. To bring it back to something pure, intentional and soft in a world that can feel so hard. I want people to bathe themselves and their loved ones in love and grace, and to feel seen and held when they listen.”

Mawelele recently hosted an exclusive listening session for PGLTM, bringing together media and invited guests to experience the album ahead of its release. The evening celebrated the project and marked a new chapter in his musical journey.

MAWELELE TAKES PGLTM TO THE STAGE WITH HIS FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN LIVE TOUR
In celebration of the album’s release, gamma., in partnership with Blu Blood, will produce Mawelele’s first live tour in South Africa, bringing PGLTM to audiences in Durban and Johannesburg this December before continuing across the country over Valentine’s weekend in 2027.

The December dates are:

Durban: 17 December 2026 at the iZulu Theatre, Sibaya Casino
Tickets Available: HERE

Johannesburg: 19 December 2026 at the Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace.
Tickets Available: HERE

The tour will continue across South Africa over Valentine’s weekend in 2027, with further dates and details to be announced. Mawelele merchandise is also coming soon, giving fans another way to connect with the PGLTM experience.

ABOUT MAWELELE
Born Ntokozo Wandile Mawelele in 2002, Mawelele is a South African singer-songwriter and pianist raised in the Vaal. He began playing piano at 11 and developed his sound through church and local music groups before gaining attention through lockdown cover videos and signing to Umuthi Records by Blaq Diamond. Blending Afro-pop and R&B, he has amassed over 100 million cumulative streams, with a catalogue that includes “All My Life” featuring Kwesta and several successful collaborations with Naledi Aphiwe. His achievements include Best Newcomer at the Urban Music Awards and two Metro FM Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Afropop Song.

Listen to “PGLTM” HERE