Donald points to Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele as the young artists bringing South African R&B back into the spotlight. He highlights the fresh energy, soul and sincerity they brought to the genre when it was losing respect. Their rise has renewed interest in modern R&B in Mzansi and reinforced its place in the country’s music culture. He emphasizes that their work carries a responsibility to protect and nurture the genre’s legacy.
During her recent appearance on The Unplug, singer Naledi Aphiwe shared how her hit single “Mina Nawe” came to life. She revealed that the song was inspired the moment she heard the beat in studio, describing it as a sound unlike her usual style. “It was my first time being exposed to it,” she said. Instead of a gospel tone like in “Ngibonga uNkulunkulu,” Naledi shaped the track around a joyful wedding celebration theme, saying, “I tried to make this song about wedding celebration because the beat matched that.”
