Fireboy DML, JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela Unite for New Single “IMALI”
Nigerian singer and songwriter Fireboy DML has released “IMALI”, a new single that connects West African and Southern African musical influences through a collaboration with Lesotho-born producer JAZZWRLD and South African artist Thukuthela. Produced by JAZZWRLD, the track brings Fireboy DML’s melodic songwriting together with elements of South Africa’s emerging 3-Step sound. The collaboration explores themes of money, ambition and the pursuit of success while highlighting the creative connections developing between different African music scenes. “IMALI” also represents a meeting of distinct musical backgrounds, with artists from Nigeria, Lesotho and South Africa contributing their own perspectives to the record. The release arrives with an official music video that expands on the song’s themes through a cinematic visual approach.
At the centre of “IMALI” is the production of JAZZWRLD, whose work gives the track its Southern African character. The Lesotho-born producer brings elements associated with the emerging 3-Step sound into a record led by Fireboy DML’s recognisable melodic approach. This combination allows the song to move between West African songwriting traditions and a rhythm increasingly gaining attention within South African music. Thukuthela adds another Southern African voice to the collaboration, further strengthening the connection between the different musical cultures represented on the track. The result is a cross-border release that reflects how African artists continue to draw from one another while developing their own sounds.
Fireboy DML has highlighted his appreciation for the musical energy coming from Southern Africa and the influence its producers and artists have had beyond the region. He described working with JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela as an organic creative experience in which different cultures came together through music. His comments point to the central idea behind “IMALI”, which is not simply a collaboration between artists from different countries but an exchange of musical ideas. The song demonstrates how artists can bring distinct experiences into the same recording while still finding common ground in rhythm and songwriting. That connection gives the single a wider African identity while retaining the individual qualities of the three contributors.
JAZZWRLD also views the collaboration as an example of how music can connect people across geographical boundaries. His role as producer places him at the centre of the musical meeting between Fireboy DML’s Nigerian background and Thukuthela’s South African artistry. By creating the production around a shared rhythmic foundation, he provides space for each artist to bring their own identity into the record. His comments about making music that speaks to Africa and home also reflect the cultural dimension of the collaboration. For JAZZWRLD, “IMALI” represents a chance to find a shared rhythm between different musical worlds while allowing the production to carry the connection.
Thukuthela described the single as a celebration of African creativity and the growing interaction between music scenes across the continent. His contribution adds another perspective to a record that already crosses several national and musical boundaries. Rather than presenting African music as one uniform sound, the collaboration brings together different identities and influences within a single recording. The involvement of artists from Nigeria, Lesotho and South Africa shows how collaborations can create new points of connection between established and emerging sounds. “IMALI” therefore arrives at a time when artists across the continent continue to work together and experiment with combinations that reflect Africa’s increasingly connected music industry.
The themes of money, ambition and success give the song a subject that can connect with listeners across different backgrounds. The pursuit of financial stability and personal achievement remains a familiar part of the experiences of many young people and creatives. By placing these ideas within a cross-border African collaboration, “IMALI” gives them a musical setting that extends beyond any one country’s perspective. The combination of melodic songwriting and 3-Step-influenced production provides a framework for exploring those themes through rhythm and atmosphere. The song’s subject matter also complements the broader idea of artists building careers that increasingly reach audiences outside their home markets.
The release of “IMALI” is accompanied by an official music video directed by Gabriel OBE, adding a visual dimension to the song’s message. The video uses a cinematic aesthetic to explore ambition, perseverance and the pursuit of success. This approach allows the visual to expand on the ideas established in the music rather than simply serving as a performance-based accompaniment. The focus on perseverance also connects with the wider journey behind pursuing creative and personal goals. Through its visual storytelling, the video gives audiences another way to engage with the themes that Fireboy DML, JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela bring together in the single.
“IMALI” ultimately stands as a cross-regional collaboration that brings together Nigerian songwriting, Lesotho-born production and South African artistry. Fireboy DML, JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela each contribute elements from their respective musical backgrounds while building the record around shared themes of ambition and success. The use of 3-Step influences alongside Fireboy DML’s melodic approach gives the song a distinct connection between West and Southern African sounds. Its accompanying music video further develops the story through images centred on perseverance and aspiration. With “IMALI”, the three artists offer a new example of how collaboration continues to connect African music scenes and create space for different creative identities to meet.
Stream IMALI HERE
