South African singer Zee Nxumalo is celebrating a major milestone after being named among the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list for 2026.
The Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list spotlights young Africans who are entrepreneurs, athletes, innovators and creatives who are making a change in their respective industries on our continent and inspiring the next generations.
Taking to Instagram, Nxumalo shared the exciting announcement with her fans and reflected on her journey that led to this moment.
“IZINJA MADODA! For the little girl who dared to dream beyond what she could see, for every lesson, every setback, every prayer and every stage along the way. This moment is for all of it. Forbes Africa 30 Under 30,” the amapiano singer excitedly captioned the post.
Nxumalo’s Forbes Africa not only celebrates her achievements but also highlights the growing influence she has in the South African music industry.
She first garnered public interest at 15 through her viral rendition of “AmaBlesser” by Mlindo The Vocalist and DJ Maphorisa, eventually launching her professional career in 2022 with her debut album “KwaNxumalo”.
The 23-year-old singer has become one of Mzansi’s prominent singers after she first started out as a vocalist and went on to cement her name in the music industry.
In the years following her debut, she has achieved multiple multi-platinum records and secured numerous chart-topping collaborations.
She has collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the music scene, including DBN Gogo, Dlala Thukzin, Shakes & Les, Sykes, Master KG, Nkosazana Daughter, Young Stunna, Kabza de Small, Major League DJz and Big Zulu.
In addition, June has proven to be Nxumalo’s month as she has also been nominated for numerous Basadi in Music Awards and leads the pack with six nominations in multiple categories, including Artist of the Year, Amapiano Artist of the Year, Best Styled Artist of the Year, Best Female Feature of the Year and Collaborations of the Year.
In an interview with “Sowetan”, Nxumalo reflected on her Artist of the Year nomination and said: “Honestly, ngijabula kakhulu. I was genuinely happy when I found out.
The past year has been such a blessing for me, and there have been so many special moments, so receiving a nomination like this is always an amazing feeling.” – IOL



