FROM 100 MILLION STREAMS TO CONTINENTAL AMBITION: ZEE NXUMALO LAUNCHES 2026 WITH “AWE MAH”
After a historic year that redefined what dominance looks like for a South African female artist, Zee Nxumalo opens 2026 with her first official single of the year, “Awe Mah.”
The record arrives at a pivotal moment in her career.
In 2025, Zee Nxumalo became the most streamed female artist in South Africa — ending Taylor Swift’s four-year reign at the top of the national streaming charts. Before Swift, Billie Eilish held the title. The shift signaled more than just numbers. It marked the arrival of a local artist commanding global-level attention on home soil.
Zee Nxumalo | SUPPLIED
What makes the achievement even more staggering is that Zee reached that milestone while releasing only one standalone single of her own that year, with the remainder of her streaming dominance driven largely by features and collaborations.
Over 100 million streams later, she stood as the most streamed local act of the year, male or female.
Now she begins her most intentional run yet.
“Awe Mah” featuring Dlala Thukzin is the first release of 2026 and the beginning of a year focused on volume, ownership and continental expansion. For the past three months, the record has lived virally on TikTok, sound tracking thousands of user-generated videos and organically building anticipation long before its official release.
“This one has been sitting with the people for months,” says Zee Nxumalo. “I’ve honestly been anxious in the best way because the snippet just wouldn’t die. Every time I open TikTok, it’s there. It’s rare to feel a song grow before it’s even out. I’m excited that it finally belongs to everyone properly.”
“Awe Mah” cover art | SUPPLIED
Built on a high-energy, youth-charged sonic palette, “Awe Mah” captures the unapologetic confidence that has come to define Zee’s presence in the culture. It is celebratory, rhythmic and immediate, designed for dance floors, festivals and timelines alike.
But strategically, it signals something larger.
“In a certain way, Zee in 2025 reminds me of Drake in 2012,” Wandile Madondo recounts, CEO of TGTM Agency and A&R behind Zee. “He remained top of mind and on the charts all year without a single release to his name.
“2026 is the year we turn visibility into legacy. Zee is stepping into a season of deliberate, self-led releases that will define her identity, deepen fan connection, and cement her position as a long-term artist.” Madondo added.
“This year is about more music, more ownership and more reach,” Zee continues. “Last year showed me what’s possible even when you move lightly. This year I’m not moving lightly. I want to reinforce my place as the dominant female act in the space. I want Africa to feel me properly.”
The single was recorded in Durban and crafted through a collaborative studio process that differed significantly from her previous hit “Mamma.”
Zee Nxumalo | SUPPLIED
“The process was incredibly rewarding,” says Madondo. “With ‘Mamma,’ the record introduced a certain energy. With ‘Awe Mah,’ Zee stepped into the room with full authority. It wasn’t about chasing a moment. It was about defining one. You can hear that it’s Zee effortlessly being Zee on the song.”
Over the past two years, Zee Nxumalo has grown from viral breakout to multi-platinum mainstay, securing major brand partnerships with Puma, McDonald’s, Heineken and Nickelodeon, headlining Rocking the Daisies, touring the UK and Europe, and closing some of the country’s biggest stages.
Now the focus shifts outward.
2026 is designed as an expansion year — more singles, more original music, stronger continental presence and strategic positioning beyond South Africa’s borders. Beyond the music, Zee is also expanding her brand universe. Following the rapid sell-out of her previous merchandise drop, a new collection is currently in development and set to launch alongside this new era.
“The last drop sold out faster than we expected,” says Zee. “It showed me that people don’t just listen to the music, they want to wear the movement. The new merch is bigger, more intentional and represents exactly where I’m at right now.”
Zee Nxumalo | SUPPLIED
“Awe Mah” is not just a follow-up. It is the opening statement.
With streaming power proven, cultural presence undeniable and confidence sharpened, Zee Nxumalo begins 2026 from a position very few artists ever reach: at the top.
And she is only just getting started.