{{Short description | South African singer and songwriter}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | name = Zoë Modiga | birth_name = Palesa Nomthandazo Phumelele Modiga | alias = | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already WIDELY published, as per [[WP:DOB]] --> | birth_place = Overport, [[Durban]], KwaZulu-Natal | origin = | genre = Jazz | occupations = singer-songwriter | instruments = vocals, guitars, piano and clarinet | years_active = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) --> | label = Yelloëwax,BandaBanda Agency | website = {{URL|https://www.zoemodiga.com}} }} '''Palesa Nomthandazo Phumelele Modiga''', professionally known as '''Zoë Modiga''' is a South African singer and songwriter. Modiga first gained recognition as contestant on ''The Voice South Africa'' 2016.
Modiga's second studio album ''Inganekwane'' (2020), debuted number one on the Apple Music World Chart.
== Career == Palesa Nomthandazo Phumelele Modiga was born Overport, Durban and raised in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-06-14|title=ZOE MODIGA: REPRESENTING THE PRESENT & FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC|url=https://theinsidersa.co.za/zoe-modiga-representing-the-present-future-of-south-african-music/|work=The Insider South Africa}}</ref> her musical interest began at the age of 10, singing for local music competition.
Modiga attended the National School of Arts in Johannesburg where she studied classical piano, clarinet and vocals.
From 2013 to 2015, Modiga enrolled College of Music, [[University of Cape Town]] in Jazz performance studies. That same year, Modiga won South African Music Rights Organisation's (SAMRO) Overseas Scholarships Competition for Jazz.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zoë Modiga and the sacred art of Yellow - The Mail & Guardian| date=31 March 2017| access-date=2022-06-14| publisher=The Mail & Guardian|url= https://mg.co.za/article/2017-03-31-00-zoe-modiga-and-the-sacred-art-of-yellow/?amp}}</ref> Following year, she contested on ''The Voice South Africa'' and made it to the Top 8.<ref name="The Citizen">{{cite web|title=WATCH: Zoe Modiga opens up about her musical journey and new album 'Inganekwane' – The Citizen|access-date =2022-06-14|first=Refilwe|last= Modise|date=2020-08-03|work=The Citizen|url=https://www.citizen.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/watch-zoe-modiga-opens-up-about-her-musical-journey-and-new-album-inganekwane/}}</ref>
Her debut studio album ''Yellow: The Novel'' was released in 2017.<ref name="The Citizen"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Zoë Modiga's South African Jazz Album Is a Happiness Pill for Tough Political Times - OkayAfrica|url= https://www.okayafrica.com/zoe-modiga-yellow-the-novel/| first=Sabelo |last=Mkhabela|publisher=OkayAfrica| access-date=2022-06-14}}</ref> The album was nominated Best African Artist Album and Best Jazz Album at the [[South African Music Awards]].
On June 26, 2020, her second studio album ''Inganekwane'' was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/friday/2022-07-12-zoe-modiga-putting-together-the-pieces-of-a-new-era/|date=2022-07-12|publisher=Mail & Guardian|title= Zoë Modiga putting together the pieces of a new era|first=Tseliso |last=Monaheng|access-date=2024-03-01}} </ref><ref>{{cite web|title=GLAMOUR EXCLUSIVE: Zoë Modiga talks life, her career and her sophomore album Inganekwane |url=https://www.glamour.co.za/celebrity-news/glamour-exclusive-zoe-modiga-talks-life-her-career-and-her-sophomore-album-inganekwane-50690731| publisher=Glamour| access-date=2022-06-14| first=Arthur |last=Mukhari|date=2020-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-06-14|work=Pan African|title=Zoë Modiga talks life and her new album Inganekwane|first=Tseliso |last=Monaheng| date=2020-06-15 |url=https://pan-african-music.com/en/zoe-modiga-inganekwane-interview/}}</ref> ''Inganekwane'' incorporates jazz composition, motown soul, and African storytelling. The album debuted number one on the Apple Music World Chart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zoë Modiga: New album is a love letter to all black people {{!}} Music In Africa| access-date=2022-06-14| publisher=Music In Africa|url= https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/zoe-modiga-new-album-love-letter-all-black-people|date=2020-07-10|first=Ano |last=Shumba}}</ref>
Modiga headlined to 14th Annual Mzansi Fela Festival, which was held in State Theatre, Gauteng in December 2021.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kedibone |last=Modise|title=Msaki, Amanda Black, Zoë Modiga to headline Mzansi Fela Festival |url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/whats-on/pretoria/msaki-amanda-black-zoe-modiga-to-headline-mzansi-fela-festival-26a6dbde-9136-4d81-9e5a-b1d8e77958e0 |date=2021-12-04| access-date=2022-06-15| publisher=Independent Online}}</ref>
=== 2023-present: ''Nomthandazo'', Cos Cos Tour ===
In September 14, Modiga announced her Cos Cos Yaphela Tour and her third studio album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Acclaimed singer Zoë Modiga discusses her upcoming tour and more |work=GQ Magazine|date=14 September 2023|access-date =16 September 2023|url=https://www.gq.co.za/culture/entertainment/acclaimed-singer-zoe-modiga-discusses-her-upcoming-tour-and-more-8fd890b3-6d1e-4688-9a3d-ecd4d64a6f56}} </ref> The tour includes 3 dates that ran from September and concluded at The Star Theatre, Cape Town on October 20.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://texxandthecity.com/2023/08/zoe-modiga-set-to-play-three-lives-shows-in-sa-this-september-and-october/|work=Texx and the City|title=ZOË MODIGA SET TO PLAY THREE LIVES SHOWS IN SA THIS SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER|first=Alessandro |last=Gueli|date=August 24, 2023|access-date=2023-03-01}} </ref>
In November 2023, Modiga was honoured with Women of the Year title by Glamour.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glamour.co.za/lifestyle/introducing-the-glamour-women-of-the-year-2023-award-winners-powered-by-tresemme-5df0d29d-5196-4657-bbc9-b694717eb888 | title=Introducing the GLAMOUR Women of the Year 2023 Award Winners powered by TRESemmé }}</ref>
In early April 2024, Modiga announced pre-save of her third studio album ''Nomthandazo''.
The album was released on April 26, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |location=South Africa|language=en-ZA|url-access=subscription|publisher=News24|title=A quest for self: Zoë Modiga blends ancestry and artistry in new soul stirring album Nomthandazo|url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/music/a-quest-for-self-zoe-modiga-blends-ancestry-and-artistry-in-new-soul-stirring-album-nomthandazo-20240524|access-date=2024-05-29|date=2024-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=WATCH {{!}} Musician Zoë Modiga talks on her latest album - eNCA|publisher=eNCA|url=https://www.enca.com/lifestyle/watch-musician-zoe-modiga-talks-her-latest-album |date=2024-05-19|access-date=2024-05-29|language=en|location=South Africa}}</ref>
In early June 2024, Zoë was announced as EQUAL Africa ambassador for June by [[Spotify]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/spotify-names-zoe-modiga-equal-africa-ambassador-june|first=Ano|last=Shumba|title=Spotify names Zoë Modiga EQUAL Africa ambassador for June|access-date=2024-06-10|work=Music in Africa|date=2024-06-10}}</ref>
In September, Modiga announce her Nzalabantu concert, was held at The Star Theatre, Cape Town on 4 October.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zoe Modiga to host ‘Nzalabantu’ concert in the mother city|url=https://www.bona.co.za/entertainment/zoe-modiga-to-host-nzalabantu-concert-in-the-mother-city/|date=2024-09-05|access-date=2024-09-06|work=Bona Magazine |first=Nomonde|last=Simelane}}</ref>
== Discography == * ''Yellow: The Novel'' (2017) * ''Inganekwane'' (2020) * ''nomthandazo'' (2024) * ''The Vault'' (2026)
== Singles == ===As lead artist=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]] ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:100%;"|[[Entertainment Monitoring Africa|ZA]]<br /> |- ! scope="row" | "Lengoma" |2019 | — | | {{Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row" | "Umdali" |rowspan=2|2020 | — | | {{Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row" | "Intsha" | — | |''Inganekwane'' |- ! scope="row" | "Umlolozelo" |2021 | — | |''African Lullabies (Part 1)'' |- ! scope="row" | "Ngelosi" |rowspan=2|2024 | — | | rowspan=2|''nomthandazo'' |- ! scope="row" | "amen" | — | |- ! scope="row" | "Something New" |2026 |— | |{{non-album single}} |- | colspan="8" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable" !Awards !Year !Prize !Results !{{abbrv|Ref.|References}} |- |AFRIMMA |2021 |Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Jazz |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFRIMA 2021 Winners List|url=https://afrima.org/afrima-2021-winners-list|website=afrima.org|access-date=2022-06-15|archive-date=2022-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521210636/https://afrima.org/afrima-2021-winners-list|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |[[Basadi in Music Awards]] |2022 |AC Wines Jazz Artist of the Year |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/basadi-music-awards-2022-all-nominees|work=Music in Africa|date=2022-07-06|title=Basadi in Music Awards 2022: All the nominees|first=Ano|last=Shumba|access-date=2022-07-07}}</ref> |- | Glamour | 2023 | Women of the Year | {{won}} | |- |Feather Awards |2024 |Musician of the Year |{{won}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/feather-awards-2024-sa-all-nominees|title=Feather Awards 2024 in SA: All the nominees|work=Music in Africa|access-date=2024-10-07|date=2024-10-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Feather Awards 2024 in SA: All the winners|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/feather-awards-2024-sa-all-winners|access-date=2024-11-08|work=Music in Africa|date=2024-11-08}}</ref> |- |Basadi in Music Awards |rowspan=2|2025 |Songwriter of the Year |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|title=Lerai, Zee Nxumalo, Shandesh nominated at the fourth annual Basadi in Music Awards|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/s-mag/fashion-beauty/2025-06-19-lerai-zee-nxumalo-shandesh-nominated-at-the-fourth-annual-basadi-in-music-awards/|access-date=2025-08-13|date=2025-06-19|first=Masego|last=Seemela |work=Sowetan LIVE|url-access=subscription}}</ref> |- |South African Music Awards |Best African Adult Contemporary Album |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|title=South African Music Awards 2025: All the nominees|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/south-african-music-awards-2025-all-nominees|work=Music In Africa|access-date=2025-08-30|first=Ano|last=Shumba|date=2025-08-28}}</ref> |}
== References == {{Reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Modiga, Zoe}} [[Category:South African women singer-songwriters]] [[Category:South African singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century South African women singers]] [[Category:South African jazz singers]] [[Category:South African women jazz singers]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Musicians from KwaZulu-Natal]]