South African rapper Anele Zondo will release her new single “Royalty” on 23 September, moving into Afro-Pop as she continues to expand beyond hip-hop. Teasers for the track point to the new sound.
Recent releases and awards recognition#
“Royalty” follows “Bhampa”, released in June with Qwellers member Blue Pappi and accompanied by an official music video. Zondo has said “Bhampa” was made with women in mind, offering a track for moments when listeners want to feel confident and empowered.
In August, Zondo was named Hip-Hop Artist of the Year at the 2026 Basadi in Music Awards, held at the Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 7 and 8 August. The category honours women making an impact in South African hip-hop, and the ceremony marked the fifth edition of the awards.
Genre exploration and catalogue#
Before “Bhampa”, Zondo released “Whole City” in June 2025 as a hip-hop/rap track. That followed “KANCINCI”, a 2024 collaboration with Nandipha808 and Miss Pammie.
Zondo has described herself as a musician rather than an artist confined to one genre. Her debut EP, “YTYKM – You Think You Know Me”, brought together four genres. She has also explored Amapiano through “Johnny”. Earlier releases include:
- “Ingwe”
- “Thick Slim” featuring the late Nadia Nakai
- “BREATHE” under the name Ney The Bae
With “Royalty”, Zondo extends that genre exploration into Afro-Pop. The single is scheduled for release on 23 September.
