| Birth name | Thuthuka Wandile Zindlovu |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Lamontville, Durban, South Africa |
| Occupation | DJ · record producer |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Awards | Full list |
| Website | iG.com/dlalathukzin |
| Alias | Uncle Dlala |
|---|---|
| Genre | Gqom · 3-step · afro tech |
| Instrument | Sampler · DAW · FL Studio |
| Label | Dlala Records |
Thuthuka Wandile Zindlovu, prominently known as Dlala Thukzin is a South African DJ and record producer born and bred in Lamontville, KwaZulu-Natal.[1] He is famous for his versatility of blending amapiano and afro tech with gqom.[2][3][4]
Zindlovu came to prominence subsequent to producing Babes Wodumo's "Umngan'wami" taken from her 2016 studio album Gqom Queen, Vol. 1.[2]
In 2021, Thukzin released "Phuze" and "Phuze Remix" with guest appearances from Zaba, Mpura, Sir Trill and Rascoe Kaos, the prior and latter certified Gold and Platinum respectively by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).[5] In 2023, he released "iPlan" from his extended play (EP) Permanent Music 3 (2023),[6] which peaked at number one on Local Streaming Chart Top 10 of The Official South African Charts,[7] number one on Local & International Streaming Chart Top 10,[8] and number one Billboard South Africa songs.[9] In addition the song was certified 2× Platinum in South Africa.[10]
His single "AmaGear" with Zee Nxumalo, Funky Qla, featuring MK Productions released on 5 July 2024. The song debuted number 5 on Local Streaming Top 10.[11]
Discography
- Permanent Music (2020)
- Permanent Music 2 (2021)
- Summer Banger (with Funky Qla) (2021)
- Finally Famous (2022)
- Permanent Music 3 (2023)
- 031 Studio Camp (2024)
- Finally Famous Too (2024)
- 031 Studio Camp 2.0 (2025)
- MAYVIS (2025)
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZA | |||||||
| "Classic" (featuring Sizwe Ntuli) | 2020 | — | |||||
| "Phuze" (featuring Zaba) | 2021 | — | RiSA: Gold | ||||
| "Overtone" (Kususa, Dlala Thukzin) | — | ||||||
| "Phuze Remix" (featuring Zaba, Sir Trill, Mpura, Rascoe Kaos) | — | RiSA: 2x platinum | |||||
| "iStofu" (Zaba, Dlala Thukzin) | — | ||||||
| "Inkinga (2023 Remastered Version)" (Kvy-ix, Dlala Thukzin) | 2023 | — | |||||
| "Danki Bawo" (Dlala Thukzin, Sykes) | — | ||||||
| "C&C" | — | ||||||
| "Hey Sister" (DJ Bongz, Dlala Thukzin, Funky Qla) | — | ||||||
| "FOMO" (Goldmax, Dlala Thukzin, Funky Qla featuring Zee Nxumalo, Beast Rsa) | 2024 | — | |||||
| "Fire Dance" | — | ||||||
| "031 Studio Camp" (Dlala Thukzin, Funky Qla) | |||||||
| "Ama Gear" (Dlala Thukzin, Funky Qla, Zee Nxumalo featuring Mk Productions) | 5[11] | Finally Famous Too | |||||
| "Nkosi" (Darque, Kabza De Small, Dlala Thukzin, Sino Msolo) | — | ||||||
| "Awe Mah" (Zee Nxumalo, Dlala Thukzin featuring Shakes & Les, MK Productions, Funky Qla) | 2026 | — | |||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Other charted and certified songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZA | |||||||
| "Sohlala Sisonke" (Dlala Thukzin, featuring Zeh McGeba, MK Productions) | 2024 | 6[12] | Finally Famous Too | ||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Awards and nominations
Dlala Thukzin leads the 2023 South African Dance Music Awards nomination list with four nominations, alongside Kabza de Small and Skye Wanda.[13]
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Recipient/Nominated work | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | South African Music Awards | Best Gqom Album | Summer Banger | [14] | |
| Best Music Video of the Year | |||||
| 2024 | Best Dance Album | Permanent Music 3 | [15] | ||
| Best Collaboration | "iPlan" | ||||
| 2024 | All Africa Music Awards | Best Male Southern Africa | Himself | [16] | |
| 2024 | Dstv Content Creator Awards | Song of the Year | "iPlan" | [17] | |
| 2024 | South African Dance Music Awards | Best Dance | |||
| Best Male DJ | Herself | ||||
| Best Live Act | |||||
| Best Dance Album | Permanent Music 3 | ||||
| 2025 | Metro FM Music Awards | Best Dance Song | div style="text-align: center";>|"Sohlala Sisonke" | [18] | |
| Best Male Artist | div style="text-align: center";>|Himself | ||||
| Best Produced Album | div style="text-align: center";>|Finally Famous Too | ||||
| BET Awards | Best New International Act | div style="text-align: center";>|Himself | [19] |
References
- ^ "Dlala Thukzin's 'one-man concert' is one not to be missed". 2022-04-19. Archived 17 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "These are the most exciting gqom producers right now". DJMag.com. 2023-03-27. Archived 29 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
- ^ "Whose genre is it anyway? Shimza sparks amapiano vs gqom debate". thesouthafrican.com. 27 August 2021. Archived 15 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ Zuma, Mbalenhle (2023-05-15). "Dlala Thukzin takes gqom, amapiano wars a notch higher" (in en-ZA). Sunday World. Archived 22 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Phuze". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Dlala Thukzin is taking the music industry by storm". Independent Online. 2023-10-06. Archived 14 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Charts". TOSAC. Archived 6 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 10 Week 44-2023". TOSAC. Archived 6 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Cusson, Michael (2022-02-15). "South Africa Songs". Billboard. Archived 24 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Darangwa, Shingai (2023-11-08). "Song of the summer 'iPlan' goes double platinum, continues to top several charts". Independent Online. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ "Local Streaming Chart Top 10". The Official South Africa Charts. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Local Streaming Chart Top 10". The Official South Africa Charts. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ "Dlala Thukzin, Kabza De Small, and Skye Wanda lead 2023 SA Dance Music Awards nominations". Independent Online. 2023-08-14. Archived 16 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Zwane, Nokuthula. "SAMA28: See all the nominees here". Life. Archived 28 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Sensational Tyla leads the pack with five SAMA30 nominations". Sunday World. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
- ^ Naile, Siso (2022-10-14). "Dlala Thukzin appreciates fans for international nomination" (in en-ZA). The South African. Archived 5 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Shumba, Ano (2024-08-19). "SA: DStv Content Creator Awards announce 2024 nominees". Music in Africa. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
- ^ Shumba, Ano (2025-03-05). "Metro FM Awards 2025: All the nominees". Music in Africa. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
- ^ Shumba, Ano (2025-05-09). "BET Awards 2025: All the nominees". Music in Africa. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
- ^ CEO, MackNaija (2025-09-02). "Dlala Thukzin - Mali Ft. Zee Nxumalo & Sykes". MackNaija. Retrieved 2025-09-02.