A Moment with the Youngest Ever Metro FM Award Winner and Singer-Songwriter Naledi Aphiwe
From earning a songwriter’s credit on R&B superstar Chris Brown’s Grammy-winning 11:11 album for “Shooter” and sharing the stage with him this past December at the FNB Stadium to becoming the youngest recipient of the Metro FM Music Award, afropop singer-songwriter Naledi Aphiwe is arguably one of the country’s hottest commodities and is among the most accomplished among her contemporaries. The Class of 2024 Matriculant started off the year with her smash hit duet, “Romeo & Juliet”, alongside Mawelele, matching, if not topping, her previous act which came in the shape of her successful single “Ngiyabonga”. Gifted and very well gone, the teen sensation is one of South Africa’s shining stars.
Aphiwe spoke briefly about her origins, going back to the days when she was little.
“Naledi Aphiwe is a young girl from the township called Inanda. I was raised by my father who and grew up with my sisters. We all love music at home,” she said, when asked about her upbringing and where she came from.
Naledi Aphiwe | SUPPLIED
Besides the music, Naledi is also famed for her larger-than-life online personality, particularly on Facebook and her TikTok. Known for her saucy and jocular clapbacks and jokes about the things happening in her own life – from her thoughts on Mawelele to the resent outcome of the Soweto Derby for the Nedbank Cup final – public reception has been largely divided, with some saying that fame has gone to her head while others reiterate that she’s expressive and encourage that she remains so. The young crooner admitted that while she’s been famous for a little over a minute, she has found it tough to strike a balance between the star she is and the young lady she feels people misunderstand.
“I’ve been in the public eye for a number of years now, my connection with my followers makes it difficult to separate my personal life and my real bubbly personality which is often misunderstood,” she said.
Naledi Aphiwe | SUPPLIED
On the 3rd of May 2025, the songstress etched her name in the history scrolls of the South African music industry after sealing a win at the 19th Annual Metro FM Awards in the Best African Pop Song category for “Romeo & Juliet”. At the age of only 18, she became the ceremony’s youngest winner, beating the likes of Blaq Diamond, Nomfundo Moh, and Mlindo the Vocalist for the gong. She spoke about the feeling of taking the coveted black statuette back home with her.
“Winning a Metro is almost every musicians’ dream in SA. I feel like this is a blessing my supporters have given me to dream even bigger and to count on them. I was competing with Artists that have almost 10 years of experience, so I never believed I stand a chance. Not to mention being the youngest afropop artist to win it,” she said.
Watch “Romeo & Juliet”:
Guidance is the compass that ensures that every destination is reached, and for a young act such as Naledi, she conceded that her management team has been her bulwark. In addition, she also showed love to her father.
“Definitely my management team. They have really helped me grow as a person, particularly sis’ Londy. She’s never given up on me, and she built this excellent team I have today. Also my dad has been an important figure as well, she’s been supporting me from day one,” she said.
Every ascension breeds a battle-tested heart able to withstand the storms of life. Naledi gave herself a pat on the back after looking over her shoulder and seeing how far she has come as a person. With her sights set on global domination and wealth, the cornerstone of her outlook has been contentment and being able to look past her the spots of life.
“I’m really proud of myself, hey. I’m content. I’ve been through a lot at a very young age, but I feel like I’ve learnt to forgive and just focus on my career. Because of that, when I look at myself, I see myself winning international awards around the world. And outside of music, investing in businesses is my end goal. Rihanna is a billionaire now. How would one not be inspired by that?” she said.