WeeklySA_AdminEVOLUTION: After stepping away from music to focus on family and personal healing, Unathi Nkayi is making a powerful comeback with Isikhwele, a collaboration with kwaito icon Professor and emerging artist Meez, ahead of her forthcoming album…
By WSAM Reporters
Award-winning broadcaster, singer and entrepreneur Unathi Nkayi is returning to the music scene with a renewed sense of purpose, unveiling a new single that she says reflects both her personal growth and artistic evolution.
The song, Isikhwele (Jealousy), will be released on June 12 and features kwaito legend Professor and rising artist Meez. The track serves as the lead single from Unathi’s upcoming album, African Love, which is expected later this year.
I wanted to tell a story through film. I wanted to express myself in the creative direction, storyline, editing and styling. I wanted
to show how my artistry has evolved…
A soulful exploration of love, vulnerability and jealousy, the song marks Unathi’s first major music release in several years and signals what she describes as a creative rebirth.
Beyond the music itself, Unathi has invested heavily in the storytelling surrounding the project. She creatively directed and executive-produced the accompanying music video, which doubles as a tribute to Soweto during Youth Month and the commemoration of the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
The visual production also celebrates South African fashion and craftsmanship, showcasing the work of local luxury designers.
“I’ve always been known for telling deeper stories,” Unathi said. “I wanted this release to reflect how I’ve grown creatively and personally rather than simply following trends.”
The singer explained that the project was inspired by a desire to create meaningful work in an era increasingly driven by fast-moving digital content. She said her experience as a broadcaster influenced the way she approached the music video, allowing her to blend storytelling, visual artistry and performance into a cohesive narrative.
“I wanted to tell a story through film,” she said. “I wanted to express myself in the creative direction, storyline, editing and styling. I wanted to show how my artistry has evolved.”
As part of the wider project, acclaimed photographer Nick Boulton has been enlisted to create The Isikhwele Series, a digital visual extension designed to preserve and expand the visual themes featured in the music video.
The multimedia campaign forms part of a broader rollout strategy that combines music, film, fashion and digital storytelling.
For Unathi, the return to recording comes after a deeply personal period of reflection and healing.
She revealed that the death of her father and a desire to focus on raising her children led her to step back from music and reassess her creative direction. “I have not been in a space to create for some time now,” she said. “Given the loss of my father and wanting to focus on my children, I took some time to regulate myself creatively.”
The singer added that working with Professor had long been an ambition and that Isikhwele provided the perfect opportunity to collaborate before unveiling her full album.
“I have admired Professor for years and wanted to release something meaningful before releasing the full album,” she said.
The project will also introduce a new international distribution partnership with LOUD IN AFRICA, a global digital platform dedicated to amplifying African stories and creative content.
According to Unathi, the collaboration will help position her future work within a broader international conversation about African creativity, culture and storytelling.
With African Love expected later this year, Isikhwele offers audiences a glimpse into a more mature and reflective chapter in the artist’s career—one that embraces music not only as entertainment but as a vehicle for personal expression, cultural pride and storytelling.
