Online Reporter
After years of stepping back from the stage due to his epilepsy, Zola 7 is making a much-anticipated musical comeback.
The kwaito legend, born Bonginkosi Dlamini, dropped his brand-new single, She Nailed It (Amazipho), on Friday, 1 August, through ONErpm.
The song is his first solo release in years, and it comes at the end of a difficult stretch that saw the star sidelined by ill health.
Zola 7 first captured the nation’s attention on Yizo Yizo before breaking into music with his debut single, Mdlwembe, more than two decades ago. But for Zola 7, music was never the whole story.
He went on to front his own show, Zola 7, driving across South Africa without a script knocking on doors in villages and townships, and giving a voice to ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Through music and television, he tackled the subjects South Africans often avoid: poverty, mental health, education and healing.
Health, rest and the comeback
Behind the scenes, Zola 7 has been fighting his own battle.
“When I was not recording music, I was very ill. I’m epileptic. Most of the time, I was in bed because epilepsy requires one to always rest,” he said. Once he was well enough, he’d head home to Soweto to see his children and family – until his team found a way to coax him back into the studio.
“Resting at home, eating well was very important. I couldn’t drive long distances, otherwise you’d bury me,” he said, adding that his illness kept him from performing or attending gigs altogether.
Produced by Almotie Mtombeni, known as Alie Keys, She Nailed It (Amazipho) is Zola 7’s tribute to the women who rise above adversity – a celebration of everyday victories that urges listeners to chase their dreams fearlessly.
“I waited for the right person to do the track with me, Alie Keys, and we made a decision to release it. It’s absolutely wonderful, and I’m very excited,” said the 49-year-old.
Zola 7 performed the song live for the first time on Saturday, 1 August, at the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival in Eswatini. The festival marked his first show in the kingdom since October 2023, before illness forced him off the road.
“The touring is crazy. I need to catch up with a lot of people in a short space of time,” he said.
His studio may be temporarily closed, but Zola 7 is still eager to mentor young artists with one condition.
“Being an artist in this century, you need a tertiary education. There are schools in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. It’s expensive, but you need the paperwork to back yourself up.”
He’s also urging young creatives to keep pace with a rapidly digitising industry, while sounding a warning about artificial intelligence.
“We have a serious problem for the younger generation because there are people who went to school for over four years to study, and now anyone can just create a logo.” As for music genres, Zola 7 isn’t ruling anything out.
“If a young artist asks me nicely to do an Amapiano track, I’m up for it. But I have to know and understand the artist. I must do one track – in fact, I’m not dying without doing one Amapiano song.”
—Drum
