Unathi returns with “Isikhwele”: A soulful journey of love and redemption

Share the Article:

After heartbreak, loss and years away from music, Unathi Nkayi is back and she brings Kwaito legend Professor along for the ride.

The media personality and singer has poured her personal healing journey into her new single, “Isikhwele,” a soulful love song tackling jealousy, love and second chances.

The new offering sees her collaborating alongside rising talent Meez in a soulful love song that explores the complexities of jealousy within relationships.

With a stunning Soweto-inspired music video and a new album on the horizon, Unathi says she is ready to reclaim her place in the spotlight.

The single dropped today, June 12, ahead of her forthcoming album African Love, expected this spring. The release marks a significant creative rebirth for her. She says the project reflects both her personal healing and artistic evolution.

The single is accompanied by a visually striking music video, which Unathi creatively directed and executive produced as a love letter to Soweto during the month commemorating the Soweto Uprisings.

WATCH | Unathi & Professor – Isikhwele – Featuring Meez (Official Music Video)

The project also pays homage to South African couture, with her positioning herself as a “walking canvas” honouring leading local luxury designers.

“I’m really proud of how I’ve grown and evolved creatively, especially in a time where everything moves so fast with technology and the fourth industrial revolution.

“For me, it didn’t feel right to just drop a dance challenge and move on; I’ve always been known for telling deeper stories, and I wanted this release to reflect that,” she explained.

Unathi taps Boulton for striking Isikhwele photography

As an orator by birth, Unathi has also enlisted acclaimed photographer Nick Boulton to shoot the Isikhwele series, a digital visual extension of the project designed to preserve and extend the life of the looks featured in the music video.

The series will live alongside the single and video as part of a broader multimedia rollout.

“I wanted to bring in my broadcasting knowledge and experience on this video. I wanted to tell a story through the film. I wanted to express myself in the creative direction, story line, editing and styling. I wanted to show how my artistry has evolved,” she added.

ALSO READ | MTK and Shwi Mantombazane drop genre-ending new single

Explaining her return to music, she said she has not been in a space to create for some time now.

She reckoned, “Given the loss of my father and wanting to focus on my children, I took some time to regulate myself creatively. I have admired the professor for years and wanted to release something meaningful before I release the full album this spring.”

She has joined forces with Loud In Africa, a global digital platform for all her upcoming work for global release, as it acts as a conduit for African stories to the world.