South African singer MaWhoo and Afro-pop star Lwah Ndlunkulu step into a new identity together as the Zulu Queens, unveiling their joint album “Isithembu” on August 28, 2026.
The name wasn’t self-chosen either. Maskandi star Mthandeni SK reportedly coined “Zulu Queens” for the pair, which says something about how this collaboration got planted in the first place – not manufactured by a label, but suggested by someone already respected inside the genre they were stepping into. Maskandi has stayed a largely male-dominated space, and both women have spoken openly about entering it deliberately, wanting to prove women belong there too.
The making of “Isithembu” wasn’t smooth either. Rather than treating that setback as a loss, both artists have described the second attempt as the stronger version, the kind of thing that happens when you know exactly what you’re chasing the second time around.
Lead single “Distance,” featuring Feza, already previewed what the album sounds like — Lwah’s rustic, culture-rooted vocal delivery meeting MaWhoo’s softer melodic touch, built on Maskandi’s traditional foundation but pulled through Amapiano and Afro-fusion textures. The full album pulls in an even wider cast, including Izingane Zoma, Mthandeni, and Siya Ntuli.
Released through Mawhoo Entertainment and Inkabi Records, distributed by Sony Music Entertainment Africa, “Isithembu” arrives as one of 2026’s most culturally significant Maskandi statements.
Listen to “Isithembu” and drop your comments below!
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