Zakwe’s Back: The Rapper Who Vanished Is Now Warning Hearts and Dropping Bars
KwaMashu’s own lyrical titan, Zakwe, has officially ended his two-year musical silence — and he’s not returning quietly. The heavyweight rapper, both literally and figuratively, just released his brand-new single Ngasengithembile, featuring fellow KZN hip-hop powerhouse Big Zulu. After fans kept asking where he’d gone, Zakwe has delivered a track that’s more than a comeback — it’s a cautionary anthem about love, loyalty, and unexpected betrayal.
But Zakwe’s absence wasn’t about fading away. In fact, the 37-year-old artist used his time off to build others up. He focused on nurturing fresh talent in KwaZulu-Natal through his competition Hood vs Hood, where he scouted and developed young, hungry rappers from different townships. “Now is the time for my music,” he told Daily Sun. “The fans have been waiting. This single is just a taste of what’s coming in my new album this September.”
His new track Ngasengithembile (translated as “I Had Faith in You”) pulls no punches. It’s a heartfelt warning wrapped in signature Zakwe flow — a message to those who give too much in love and end up with too little in return. “Don’t invest too deeply in someone who might disappear without a trace,” he says. It’s the kind of emotional honesty that makes his music resonate beyond just catchy hooks.
Beyond the booth, Zakwe has been fighting a personal war that many of his fans might not see — a deeply human battle with his weight. At his heaviest, he reached 159kg. Though he got down to 152kg, he revealed during his appearance on Heavyweight (a Moja Love reality show about people tackling obesity) that he struggled to maintain consistency. “I was once at 122kg, but I failed to maintain it. That’s my biggest challenge,” Zakwe admitted.
He isn’t giving up, though. Now training at the Moses Mabhida Stadium gym, Zakwe is once again facing his goals head-on — not just to slim down, but to reclaim his full energy, both onstage and off. “I want to lose at least 30kg,” he said. “I’ve seen it’s possible. I just have to stay on it.”
Between building young talent, fighting personal battles, and dropping hard-hitting singles, Zakwe is proving he’s more than just a rapper. He’s a reflection of what many South Africans go through: setbacks, pressure, personal growth, and still showing up stronger than before.
If Ngasengithembile is any indication of what’s to come, September’s album release will be one of the year’s most anticipated drops in Mzansi’s hip-hop scene. And Zakwe’s story reminds us that even legends need time to rebuild — but when they come back, they hit even harder.
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#Zakwe #Ngasengithembile #BigZulu #SouthAfricanHipHop #KwaMashuTalent #WeightLossJourney #MzansiMusic #DailySouthAfricanPulse
🗨️ Comment Section / Poll:
Have you listened to Zakwe’s new single yet?
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Yes, it’s fire 🔥
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Not yet, but I will
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Waiting for the full album
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I didn’t know he was back
Drop your thoughts or weight loss encouragements for Zakwe in the comments. Real people, real stories.
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