BY DR TONY M. MONDA
Zimbabwean-South African rapper, song-writer and television personality, Nadia Nakai Dlamini, absolutely fits the bill.
She has in a short space of time accumulated 7 awards and 11 nominations (including Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (ZAA), where she was named the Artist of The Year 2016), since she rose to prominence in September 2013, with the release her debut single ‘Like Me’.
Rapper and television personality, Nadia Nakai Kandava was born on 18 May 1990, in Johannesburg South Africa, to a South African father and a Zimbabwean mother. At 16 years of aged she adopted her mother’s name Dlamini.
She attended Fourways High School in Johannesburg for a year before concluding her education in Kenya, where she met the influential Kenyan female rapper, Nazizi. Inspired by NazIzi’s powerfully resonant lyrics and forceful rapping style Nakai realised her own potential for the rap genre.
She later studied for a degree in Marketing, Communication, and Media at Monash University, in Johannesburg, where she is presently based.
Following her graduation, Nadia pursued a career in the television industry. She featured on SABC1’s ‘Battle Stations’ (seasons 1 to 3), and presented and anchored the ‘Daily Planet’ show on PRTV. During this time, she also attended various events, such as the South African Music Awards Zimbabwean-South African rap queen, Nadia Nakai (SAMA’s); Metro FM Awards; MTV EMAs in Spain and the MTV Awards, where she mingled and interviewed A-list stars and guests.
In 2013, Nakai made her first television appearance on the e.TV Hip Hop show ShizNiz , where she won the ‘Mixtape 101’ competition, making her the first female to win the competition.
Following the release her debut single ‘Like Me’, in 2014, Nakai featured with Okmalum Koolkat, Maggz, Kwesta, Ginger Breadman, Kid X, and DJ Dimplez on the remix of Ricky Rick’s song, ‘Amantombazane’ which was certified Gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA). This was followed by her second single ‘Whatever’ featuring DotCom and Psyfo.
In June 2015, Nakai released her third single titled ‘Saka Wena’ featuring rapper Ice Prince. At this point, she decided to focus on her music career and signed to Family Tree Media Records.
In 2016, Nadia released her debut single on the Family Tree Media label ‘Money Back’, which was well received. The successful single was used as a soundtrack for numerous advertisements and shows such as MTV Base and SA’s e-TV soap series ‘Rhythm City.’ The ‘Money Back’ single was followed by the release of her EP: ‘Bragga’, which debuted at number 2 on the iTunes Hip Hop Chart. That same year, at the South Africa Music Awards (SAMA 2016), she was amongst the “Do Like I Do Remix” features and won Best Remix.
Nadia Nakai released her hit single “Naaameaan” in 2017, featuring Cassper Nyovest. It placed her as the first female Hip Hop artist in South Africa to receive over one million views on YouTube.
Nadia’s efforts earned her a ‘Best Female’ nomination at the SA Hip Hop Awards, and ‘Best Collaboration’ nominations at both the SA Hip Hop Awards (2017) and Metro FM Awards (2017) for featuring on Gemini Major’s ‘Ragga Ragga’. The pair performed the single at both award ceremonies respectively.
In 2017 Nadia was twice nominee for the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA). In 2018 she received four AFIMAA nominations; Best Southern Hip Hop SASA (South African Sports Awards); Best Dressed Sowetan Live and was amongst Mzansi’s Sexiest Top 12 finalist
Nakai with her ZAA Award Nadia’s hit single “Naaameaan” was followed by the club sensation “Yass Chic” in 2018. The music video for the single “Naaameaan” was nominated for the South Africa Music Awards (SAMA), Best Video in 2018.
Explaining her empathetic lyrics Nakai says: “What comes hard to me is being vulnerable, writing songs that hit home and are relatable. I want women to see themselves in the stories I tell”.
Sensitive, perceptive, concerned and empathetic, she says: “I want to speak on different subjects, from a woman’s perspective. When you listen to my music it should feel like it’s you – embodying me”
Typical of her relentless drive and winning spirit, rapper, song-writer, television personality,
fashionista and brand ambassador, Nadia Nakai is determined to break new boundaries locally and internationally.
In 2018 she collaborated with The Fashion Group who houses Sportscene and released the ‘NadiaNakaixRedbat Collection’. The clothes sold out country wide in one month. Her collaboration with the fashion house earned her the cover of Cosmopolitan and Man Mag, where, after African- American Beyonce and South African Bonang Matheba, she featured as the 3 rd indigenous African/black female celebrity.
Following a trail of successes in 2019, Nakai co-hosted the MTV Base hip hop show, Yo! MTV
Raps South Africa, alongside television presenter Siyabonga Ngwekazi. The year 2021, saw Nakai host the first season of Channel O’s ‘Gen-Z South Africa’s television show. In 2022, Nakai appeared on the Netflix original reality show ‘Young, Famous & African’.
Her eclectic, yet un-apologetic fashion sense has dubbed her as a fashion icon and has featured on the covers of Glamor (1st black female rapper on the cover); Club X, Hype Magazine, Candiland, Fashionista and Brand Ambassador, Nadia Nakai
Trend Report and The Plug. Nadia Nakai was recently appointed brand ambassador of Reebok at the Mesh Club in Rosebank, Johannesburg. The company says “Nakai and her attitude embody what it means to be bold, colourful and courageous; an ethos which Reebok believes is closely aligned to ours”.
Nakai is also Brand Ambassador for: Courvoisier; Reebok; Sportscene and SHELL V- Power and
Headliner for: Fill Up; Castle Lite Unlocks; SXSW 2020, and Ivyson Tour Affiliations.
Dr.Tony Michel Monda holds a PhD. in Art Theory and Philosophy and a DBA in Post-Colonial Heritage Studies. He teaches and plays multiple instruments. He is an arts, culture and music critic for Gemnation News.
Gemnation News Zimbabwe is renowned for its analysis and celebration of the African women’s achievements in the arts, music, entertainment and humanities throughout Africa and the greater African Diaspora. For Comments E-mail: tonym.MONDA@gmail.com
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