Meet Sindiswa Nhlapho, a 22-year-old songbird from Tsakane, East Rand. Nhlapho started off by posting videos of herself singing covers on TikTok, where her soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics captivated audiences. Now, Nhlapho is a rising new talent in the Afro-pop and R&B scene.
With her latest single, “Iphupho” (A Dream), she continues to inspire fans with her authentic storytelling and uplifting message.
In an interview with IOL, the singer shared the personal experiences that inspired “Iphupho”, a song that began as a prayer to God, asking for guidance and blessings to achieve her dreams.
“I wanted to write a song that would make my mom and family proud,” she explained, adding that after singing on TikTok for over two years, she got into the studio and wrote a prayer to God, asking for her dream to come true.
@ceenday_19 IPHUPHO IS OUT YALL …LINK IN MY BIO💃💙 #tiktoksouthafrica #VoiceEffects ♬ Sindiswa Iphupho - Sindiswa Nhlapo
Nhlapho's rise to fame can be attributed to her engaging presence on TikTok, where she has built a loyal community of over 900,000 followers.
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Her audience has been instrumental in supporting her music career, encouraging her to release her own songs and providing valuable feedback.
“I feel like I wouldn't be here without them, I wouldn't even have released music because they were the ones who encouraged me to drop my own music,” she said.
“They have impacted my music career a lot because they stream my songs, repost, and use them on social media,” she added.
@ceenday_19 #fyp#singingtiktok#singing ♬ original sound - Sindiswa Nhlapo
“Hambe” is Nhlapho’s debut single, featuring talented rapper Blxckie, which she released in 2024. With help from her TikTok audience, she sent a direct message (DM) to the rapper asking for a feature, and the rest is history.
@ceenday_19 Iv been wanting to post this but kinda scared but lets make this happen yall🥺 #tiktoksouthafrica ♬ original sound - Sindiswa Nhlapo
When asked about her experience working with fellow artist Blxckie, she described it as an “incredible experience”, praising Blxckie's energy and creativity in the studio.
“He brought a unique vibe to my track, and I learned a lot from his approach to music making. We come from different genres, but we found a way to merge our sounds,” she said.
As a rising star in the local music industry, Nhlapho hopes to achieve international recognition and inspire her listeners with encouraging and relatable stories. She wants her audience to remember her as an artist who tells stories that bring peace and comfort.
“Record that video and post it online, you never know when your big break might happen,” she advised aspiring artists hoping to establish a music career and online presence.
With a new generation of artists who are using social media platforms like TikTok to launch their careers, she emphasised the value of consistency and patience.
IOL Entertainment