Lizwi

Lizwi, born Nokuphiwa Mbatha, is a 29-year-old South African artist based in Durban who began releasing music in August 2020. She operates under the alias Nokuphiwa Sybil Mbatha and has established herself as an Afro Tribal flag bearer in the global electronic music market. Her music fuses dance music with African acoustics, drawing inspiration from her Zulu ancestral background and influences like Busi Mhlongo.

Lizwi produces Afro House as her primary genre, alongside Indie Dance, Bass House, Deep House, and Drum & Bass across her 21 releases. She has released music on notable labels including MoBlack Records, Go Deeva Records, Armada Music, Madorasindahouse Records, and SwitchLab. Her sound combines Afro Tribal elements with contemporary electronic production, incorporating live string instruments that she performs both in studio recordings and during live performances. Her music maintains the rhythmic complexity of African traditional music while adapting it for dancefloor environments.