Rising Afro-soul artist Thando Zide today announces her highly anticipated debut album Ku Ngawe, set for release on 26 June 2026. The announcement is accompanied by the lead up single Fakazela, a deeply emotive collaboration with award-winning vocalist and songwriter Ami Faku.
Fakazela — translating directly to “be my witness” — explores the tender and often unspoken love that lives between close friends. The song captures the quiet ache of missed opportunities, where the fear of disrupting a cherished friendship holds two people back from expressing something far deeper. It is a song about the courage it takes to let your heart be seen.
The pairing of Thando Zide and Ami Faku brings together two of South Africa’s most compelling voices in contemporary soul. Their deep-seated chemistry, both as friends and as artists, breathes life into every note of the track — making Fakazela an intimate and unforgettable listening experience, perfectly suited to the colder months ahead.
Ku Ngawe is an 11-track debut album rooted in R&B and soul. Rich, deep, and evocative, the album delivers a sultry winter mood with layered textures and a sound that rewards attentive, deep listening.
Thando arrives in great company. The album features contributions from some of South Africa’s most celebrated songwriters — Msaki, Manana, and Ami Faku — each renowned for their voice, craft, their lyricism, and their deeply intentional approach to music.
Ku Ngawe is an album for open hearts. It is for those who seek music that moves beneath the surface — layered, honest, and alive with feeling.
Fakazela is out now on all major streaming platforms. Ku Ngawe will be released 26 June 2026
Listen to Fakazela and pre-add Ku Ngawe on all music stores now: https://thandozide.lnk.to/all
About Thando Zide
Born Thandokazi Phanyaphanya and raised in Soweto, Johannesburg, Thando Zide’s musical journey began long before she sang her first note. Raised in a home filled with harmonies and choir rehearsals by her devoted chorister parents, she inherited a lineage of rich musical tradition that continues to shape her artistry today.
Her formal training at the National School of the Arts in Braamfontein refined her natural gift. She became an integral member of the school orchestra and choir, and later formed an A Cappella group with fellow students. From community concerts to performances at the Joburg Theatre, Zide steadily cultivated a stage presence defined by emotional honesty and vocal precision.
In recent years, her talent has led to collaborations with celebrated South African artists including Manana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Kelvin Momo, Jabulile Majola, and Nomfundo Moh — affirming her growing influence within the contemporary Afro-soul landscape.
Her 2023 debut EP Umvulo introduced standout tracks iNtwenhle and iLanga Lakho, while her popular single Ziveze further showcased her evolving sound: rich, emotive, and deeply rooted in the textures of home.
Follow the Conversation:
Apple Music
Spotify
Instagram
Tik-Tok
Youtube
