Durban’s Okmalumkoolkat turns romance into alternative hip-hop on “Yinto Yabantu Ababili,” the 2:34 fourth track on “iTheku eThekwini.”
The title loosely means “a thing for two people,” and the song explores the layered feelings inside a relationship. It’s about unity, vulnerability and the fragility of two people creating something together. The Durban artist, born Simiso Zwane, blends experimental hip-hop textures with subtle electronic touches, so the mood feels futuristic and deeply personal at once. Sjambok Studios and Virgin Music Group released it as the album’s first single just before Valentine’s Day, and an earlier version surfaced in 2025 under the “Yinto” spelling, with a self-shot visual snippet.
The song sits near the front of an 11-track album that puts Durban at the centre. “iTheku eThekwini” is the Zulu name for the city, and the artwork gathers Moses Mabhida Stadium, coastal scenery, and Zulu dancers. Okmalumkoolkat said the experiences and information he collected between 2020 and 2025 shaped the material. The rollout also changed along the way, since he pushed the release back by a week after the team felt engagement was low and many people did not know it was dropping.
He has a strong catalogue to lean on. “Mlazi Milano” turned ten this year, and “Uk’thula” from that album has drawn renewed attention. “uShukela eTiyeni” and the eight-track “Durban Curry Powder” from 2025 filled the gap while he finished this project. A love song at track four gives the album an early, human moment.
For fans who like Durban hip-hop with a soft heart, this track fits right in.
Play “Yinto Yabantu Ababili” for the one you share a thing with and tell us – who is the other person?
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