Zu.

Marking 20 years of songwriting, Zu.’s 11-track album Ilitye was released on 27 February 2026. This is a celebration of her journey from collective frontwoman to fully realised independent creative force.

Zu.’s career began in the collaborative space. In 2010 she co-founded LoveGlori, followed by Zuko Collective (ZuCo.) in 2013. As lead member, she captivated audiences at major festivals including t Smoking Dragon, Basha Uhuru , Fete de la Musique, CTNWF. .

In 2015, she produced ZuCo.’s debut album Relationtrips. By 2016, Zu. stepped confidently into her solo era, releasing multiple projects including the SAMA-nominated single “Ndim Nani,” solidifying her voice within South Africa’s Afro-contemporary landscape.

Her artistic reach extends beyond music. Zuko Collective’s residency at Abantu Book Festival affirmed her presence within the literary arts, while career highlights include sharing stages with Yasiin Bey at iRocke Festival and the late Hugh Masekela at Bantu Hour.

Fresh from her debut European tour, Zu. enters her third decade not in reinvention, but in integration — creating work that serves as both performance and offering, and continuing to host community mental health check-ins as part of her commitment to art as healing.