South African Maskandi artist Nsika Biyela names his new five-track EP after “Ayifihleki,” the fourth song on the project.
The Zulu title roughly means “it cannot be hidden,” and the whole EP leans on honest expression. Nsika Biyela sings about life, relationships, personal experiences, and the situations people meet every day. He keeps the storytelling plain, so listeners can follow each feeling without extra explanation.
Control is his trademark. Maskandi projects usually involve several people, with one handling vocals, another the beat, and another the writing. Nsika Biyela often does all of it. He composes, produces, sings, writes the lyrics, and engineers the sound himself. That one-person approach gives his work a clear, personal stamp, and it explains why he is seen as one of the genre’s more versatile voices.
This EP is his last project of the year, and it runs without a single guest. “Sisathandana” opens it, followed by “Inyani” and “Ufuna Ngenzeni,” which has caught the attention of critics. Then “Ayifihleki” arrives at track four, and “Uthol’ Oncono” closes the set. Together they move through different moods while keeping a connected sound.
For Maskandi fans who like solo storytelling with a steady voice, this project offers a lot in a short space.
Take in “Ayifihleki” and tell us – which secret can you not hide?
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