Nontokozo Mkhize

Nontokozo Mkhize is a South African gospel and Afro-soul singer, songwriter and performer from KwaZulu-Natal. She is known for her soulful vocals, faith-centered songwriting and ability to blend gospel influences with contemporary African sounds. Her rise to prominence began after years of working as a backing vocalist and choir member before she stepped forward as a solo artist.

Mkhize gained wider attention in 2023 through her appearance on Sjava’s album Isibuko, particularly on the song “Thixo.” She followed that breakthrough with her solo debut, “Lu Strong,” featuring Nomfundo Moh. Since then, she has established herself as one of the emerging female voices in South African gospel and inspirational music, while continuing to explore sounds beyond the traditional boundaries of gospel.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Background

Nontokozo Mkhize was born and raised in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal. Music became part of her life from an early age, with church providing one of her first environments for developing her voice. She grew up attending church and recalls gospel music as an important source of hope, belonging and spiritual grounding.

Mkhize has a younger sister, Naledi Aphiwe, who is also a singer. The sisters grew up singing together and recording videos of themselves performing, sharing ambitions of one day becoming professional artists. Their shared musical journey has since developed into successful careers for both of them.

Mkhize’s relationship with gospel music remained strong even as she became interested in other forms of African popular music. She has explained that she does not want to limit herself to a single genre, believing that uplifting messages can be communicated through different musical styles.

Education and Musical Training

Mkhize completed her matric in 2016 and pursued civil engineering after secondary school. Her decision to obtain a professional qualification was influenced by her mother’s belief that she should have an educational foundation alongside her artistic ambitions.

While studying, however, Mkhize continued developing as a singer. She later studied performing arts at the KCAP Art Centre, giving her additional training in performance and the creative arts.

Her education became an important part of the foundation for her career. Mkhize has spoken about the value of education to young people pursuing careers in entertainment, emphasizing that formal learning can provide useful skills even when one’s field of study is not directly connected to music.

Beginning of Her Music Career

Mkhize began her professional musical journey around 2017, initially working primarily behind the scenes. She joined gospel groups including Levites and became involved with choirs such as the eThekwini Gospel Choir and The Genesis Choir. She also participated in Worship Synergy.

Working as a backing vocalist gave Mkhize the opportunity to perform alongside established South African musicians and gain practical experience in the music industry. Among the artists she has worked with are Benjamin Dube, Dumi Mkokstad, Mondli Ngcobo and Naima Kay.

Those years helped her develop both her vocal ability and professional relationships. Mkhize later explained that being a backing vocalist allowed artists to become familiar with her voice and work ethic, which made the transition into a solo career easier.

Although she spent several years away from the center of attention, she always viewed the stage as her eventual destination. Her transition from backing vocalist to solo performer began taking shape around 2023.

Breakthrough with Sjava and Lu Strong

One of the most important moments in Mkhize’s early career came in 2023 when she appeared on “Thixo,” the opening track of Sjava’s album Isibuko. The collaboration exposed her distinctive voice to a much broader audience and helped establish her as an artist in her own right.

The same period marked the beginning of her solo career. Mkhize released “Lu Strong,” a collaboration with Nomfundo Moh. Unlike a conventional worship song, “Lu Strong” focuses on love overcoming difficulties, reflecting Mkhize’s broader belief that positive and spiritually grounded messages can exist across different musical styles.

The release became a major introduction to Mkhize as a solo artist. Her success was particularly notable because she had spent much of her early professional life supporting other performers rather than releasing music under her own name.

Music, Style and Influences

Mkhize’s sound draws heavily from her gospel background while incorporating Afro-soul and contemporary South African influences. Her voice has a warm, expressive quality, and her music often emphasizes emotion and storytelling rather than relying exclusively on traditional gospel arrangements.

Faith remains central to her creative identity. Mkhize has described Christ as the foundation that keeps her grounded, and she sees her music as a means of communicating love, hope and the goodness of God.

At the same time, she deliberately avoids being restricted to gospel as a musical genre. Her collaborations and recordings have incorporated elements associated with Afro-soul, amapiano and contemporary African music. She believes that spreading an uplifting message does not require an artist to use only one particular sound.

Her musical role models include established South African gospel performers, including Brenda Mtambo, whom she has identified as an influence.

Albums, Songs and Collaborations

Mkhize’s early catalog includes a combination of solo releases and high-profile collaborations. “Lu Strong” with Nomfundo Moh remains one of the songs most closely associated with the beginning of her solo career, while “Thixo” with Sjava was instrumental in introducing her voice to a larger audience.

She has also worked with artists and producers including Aymos, Starr Healer, MÖRDA and Brenden Praise. Her collaborations have allowed her to move comfortably between gospel, Afro-soul and contemporary African music.

Among her notable recordings are “Moyongcwele,” “Esandleni,” “Imisebenzi,” “Here I Am,” “Ukusa” and “Induk’Enhle.” “Esandleni” became particularly important to her growing profile and helped reinforce her position as a leading new voice in South African gospel and inspirational music.

Her debut album, Lindiwe, further established her as a solo recording artist. The project reflects the combination of faith, personal storytelling and contemporary African production that has become central to her musical identity.

Awards and Recognition

Mkhize’s rapid rise has been accompanied by several major industry honors. At the 2024 Metro FM Music Awards, she won Best Newcomer, marking one of her first major acknowledgements as a solo artist.

She also won Newcomer of the Year at the 2024 Basadi in Music Awards. At the 2025 Basadi in Music Awards, she received further recognition, winning Song of the Year and Gospel Artist of the Year.

Her success continued at the South African Music Awards, where she won Newcomer of the Year in 2025. Her album Lindiwe was also recognized in the Best Contemporary Faith Music Album category.

Internationally, Mkhize received further recognition through the African Music Awards, winning Best Female Artist in Southern Africa at the 2026 AFRIMA awards. These achievements have established her as one of the most successful new artists to emerge from South Africa’s contemporary gospel scene in recent years.

Personal Life and Current Career

Mkhize maintains a close relationship with her family, particularly her younger sister Naledi Aphiwe. The sisters’ shared musical background has become part of their public stories as both continue to establish themselves in South African music.

Beyond music, Mkhize has also identified herself as an actor and writer, reflecting a broader interest in the creative arts. Her background in performing arts has supported this wider artistic development.

By 2026, Mkhize has moved well beyond her beginnings as a backing vocalist. She continues to release music, collaborate with established African artists and perform for increasingly large audiences. She has described one of her major ambitions as changing the way gospel music is received, making it accessible to people outside traditional church environments while still communicating messages of faith, hope and purpose.

Legacy and Influence

Nontokozo Mkhize represents a younger generation of South African gospel artists who are comfortable moving between worship, Afro-soul and mainstream African sounds. Her career demonstrates how experience in choirs and backing vocals can provide a strong foundation for a successful solo career.

What distinguishes Mkhize is the balance between her spiritual foundation and her willingness to experiment musically. She does not see gospel as a limitation but as the foundation from which she can explore different sounds and reach different audiences.

From her early years singing in church and choirs to collaborations with major South African artists and recognition at the country’s leading music awards, Mkhize has built an impressive career in a relatively short period. Her continued growth suggests an artist determined not only to establish herself in gospel music but also to broaden the ways in which faith-based music can connect with contemporary audiences.