Nathi

Nkosinathi Mankayi records and performs as Nathi, a South African singer-songwriter whose velvety croon allows him to fuse introspective, mellow Afro-soul with sleek contemporary R&B that carries Afro-pop accents. His profile surged nationwide in 2014 when the debut album Buyelekhaya appeared and quickly earned triple-platinum certification, driven by the runaway single "Nomvula."

Born in the Eastern Cape town of Mthatha as one of five siblings, Mankayi grew up in nearby Maclear, where his interests quickly settled on music and drawing. Legal difficulties punctuated those early years; after completing four years of an eight-year robbery sentence, he redirected his energies toward music. A first-place finish in a regional contest during 2014 drew the notice of Vusi Nova, who invited Mankayi to appear on the single "Noma Kanjan," which became a hit. Later the same year he issued his own debut single, the sultry "Nomvule," just before releasing the full-length Buyelekhaya. The chart-topping "Nomvula" turned Mankayi into an overnight sensation, propelling the album to platinum status inside six weeks and eventually triple platinum while earning him several trophies at the 22nd South African Music Awards. His second album, 2016’s Umbulelo Wam, failed to match that commercial peak yet still registered strong activity on digital charts. Two years afterward, following his marriage and the birth of his first child, Mankayi delivered the third album Iphupha Labantu, an upbeat set.