Nyashinski back to Coke Studio Africa with Mafikizolo collabo

Nyashinski, who is featuring on the show for the second time, could not hide his excitement when the three met in Nairobi, Kenya. “I am happy to be back on the show and can’t wait to work with Mafikizolo – a group I have always held in high regard as my icons,” he said.

Mafikizolo's Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza, who will be making their debut at Coke Studio Africa, said they were looking to explore other genres other than Afro-pop. The duo also plans to release a special 20-track album later this year to celebrate their 20th anniversary in the music industry.

“We’ve got different studios in a creative environment,” Kgosinkwe said during a Coke Studio Instagram Live interview. “We love Nairobi for its warmth and nice feel. So far the vibe is good.

“We’ve done some research on Nyashinski and found out that he is very versatile as far as music is concerned. We are also versatile, so expect that we might do a hip hop track, Afrobeat, house or anything that the producers throw at us.”

Other South African artists at this year’s Coke Studio Africa include Shekhinah, AKA, Busiswa, Nasty C, Amanda Black and Mi Casa. South Africa-based Congolese artist Tresor will also make his Coke Studio Africa debut after he was paired with Cameroonian singer Locko.

“African music has had barriers for a very long time but Coke Studio Africa is a melting pot of artists from all over Africa to give the world the best of African music,” Tresor said. “It’s crucial since right now we [African artists] are at the forefront of influencing pop culture.”

Coke Studio Africa and Coke Studio South Africa merged ahead of the 2017 season to create a bigger Coke Studio Africa. The series will begin airing next month in South Africa, which will be followed by about 30 other countries on the continent in September.