Njelic

Njelic’s expansive, gospel-tinged voice has permeated countless amapiano hits since the late 2010s. Born Tshwanelo Motlhako in Soweto in 1990, Njelic started DJing in his mother’s shebeen in 2001 and was among the first generation of the genre’s DJ’s and producers while also doubling as a vocalist. A 2019 studio session with the pioneering amapiano producer De Mthuda yielded the anthemic single “Shesha,” which would go on to define the summer of 2019 in South Africa. That same year, he collaborated with Kabza De Small on the single “Nana Thula,” which featured personal lyrics about caring for his child despite his own hardships. His versatility as a vocalist and producer continued to flourish on his 2020 debut album, Garage FM, a collection of Afropop-leaning tracks featuring a diverse cast of guests.