For years, Nkhangweleni Malela watched his dream of making it big in the music industry slip through his fingers. But the 37-year-old artist from Folovhodwe, near Musina, never gave up — and now, after more than a decade of persistence, his music is finally making waves.
Known by his stage name of Sinyota, Malela's journey has been anything but easy. He discovered his passion for music back in 2007, but despite his enthusiasm, opportunities were scarce, and his plans to record an album that same year never materialised.
Not until 2016, after relocating to Soweto in Gauteng, did the pieces start to fall into place. There, he recorded his first single — and he has never looked back.
Sinyota burst onto the scene with We Go North (Venda Ndi Hayani), a trailblazing debut that featured popular artist Commando. The song dominated radio charts across Gauteng and cemented his place in the industry.
But just as his star began to rise, Sinyota took an unexpected break from music. "Sometimes life gets in the way, but the passion never leaves," he explained.
In 2019, he made a strong comeback with Chillers, a collaboration with Batondy and Commando, followed by Next Door in 2021. More hit singles followed, including Etshwaleni in 2022 with Ashlu-Raw De Vocalist and Jay-Fec, and Lufuno (Mjolo Ke Scam) in 2023, which again featured Commando and Given Mama's Boy.
But the biggest milestone came late last year with the release of his much-anticipated debut EP, Tshikandeledzi. The five-track project was recorded at Masana Records in Tshiawelo, Gauteng, under the guidance of producer and studio owner Davic.
The EP boasts collaborations with respected artists such as Batondy, Commando, Ashlu-Raw De Vocalist, Jay-Fec and Given Mama's Boy — a testament to Sinyota's growing influence in the industry.
Although Tshikandeledzi was released towards the end of last year, it was formally launched at Tshiawelo just a fortnight ago.
"It has always been my dream to have a bigger project in the form of an album or an EP, but that did not happen over the years. I also dreamt of launching my project like other big artists, but that did not happen because of the many challenges in the music industry. I am very excited that I finally managed to launch my first-ever EP. The response I am getting is overwhelming and this boosted my morale, and hopefully, a full album will be released before the end of the year," he said.
With his first EP finally out and a growing fan base behind him, Sinyota's music career is no longer a distant dream — it is in full swing.