NONTOKOZO MKHIZE AND ZAWADI YAMUNGU MERGE GOSPEL AND INDIGENOUS SOUNDS ON “GLORY”
NONTOKOZO MKHIZE AND ZAWADI YAMUNGU MERGE GOSPEL AND INDIGENOUS SOUNDS ON “GLORY” South African gospel and Afro-soul powerhouse Nontokozo Mkhize has joined forces with award-winning indigenous musician Zawadi Yamungu for a powerful new collaboration titled Glory, released in the early hours of 21 August 2026.
The collaboration brings together two of KwaZulu-Natal’s distinctive musical voices, each representing a different but equally compelling side of South African music.
Mkhize has established herself as one of the country’s prominent female gospel voices following the success of her breakout single “Esandleni” and her 2025 album Lindiwe. Her music has resonated with listeners through its emotional depth, vulnerability and powerful expressions of faith.
Yamungu, born Nkosingiphile Mpanza, has built her reputation around the preservation and evolution of indigenous music. Known for her command of the traditional Zulu umakhweyana bow, as well as her 2025 album Ngimuhle, she continues to bring traditional sounds into contemporary spaces. Her work has taken her from royal memorials to major stages, helping introduce indigenous musical traditions to a new generation.
On Glory, those two worlds meet. Mkhize’s contemporary worship-driven sound intersects with Yamungu’s rich cultural textures, creating a collaboration that brings faith, heritage and modern South African music into the same conversation.
The partnership also feels significant because both artists have built their identities around authenticity. Rather than simply functioning as a guest appearance, Glory presents itself as a meeting of two musical perspectives that have each developed strong connections with their audiences.
For Mkhize’s gospel following, the release offers another opportunity to experience her emotive approach to praise. For Yamungu’s listeners, it adds another dimension to her growing catalogue while reinforcing her commitment to keeping indigenous expression relevant in today’s musical landscape.
At a time when gospel and indigenous music can often occupy separate spaces, Glory demonstrates the creative possibilities that emerge when those worlds overlap. The result is a collaboration rooted in both spiritual expression and cultural identity.
The single is now available across major streaming platforms, allowing listeners to experience what Mkhize and Yamungu described as something special.
With Glory, two powerful voices from KwaZulu-Natal have found common ground, proving that faith, culture and contemporary sound can come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
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