Inkabi Records is owned by rapper Big Zulu and it houses award winning artists like Zulu himself, Lwah Ndlunkulu, Stallion, Siya Ntuli, Star Healer, Fanatic and Mduduzi Mncube.

Inkabi Records announced Musiholiq late last year he was part of the family but the company is not getting him gigs and it sidelined him in their school tours.

MDNtv News can confirm that the relationship between Musiholiq has gone South.

“You cannot announce someone as your artist and you don’t do anything for the singer. He doesn’t know whether he is coming or going. They have stopped taking his calls and they are continuing with their business and not involving in anything from the company. All Inkabi Records are not taking his calls and he has decided to focus more to his company and his artists,” the first source said.

Another source said that Inkabi Records management last spoke to Musiholiq whose real name is Ncazelo Mtolo from Umlazi in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in December.

“They stopped communicating with him. The guy is stressed but at least his company First Class Entertainment is doing very well. He signed Naledi Aphiwe and Okwanda and they are doing very. They were jealous of him and opted to sign him to destroy his talent. They are doong the thing with Mduduzi Ncube after he discovered Fanatic. They have decided to sign so that he cannot be bigger than Stallion production wise. They fear competition,” the source.

The third source said:

“The working relationship was not working between the two parties and he has moved back to his stable called First Class Entertainment.He must focus on his artist and continue releasing music under his company. They have stopped posting anything related to his career.”

When Musiholiq was contacted he did not confirm or deny the allegations.

“I don’t what’s happening my brother. You contact them at Inkabi Records. They will explain better, they are best people to speak. I’m in the dark and things are not happening so I have my own company and artists so I think I have to focus on growing,” he said.

Inkabi Records Manager Will Dlamini failed to respond to the queries that were sent to him. Big Zulu was sent questions but did not respond.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post The Marriage Between Singer Musiholiq And Inkabi Records Is Over appeared first on MDNtv.

The nominees were unveiled at The Forum in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, ahead of the main awards ceremony set to take place at the Durban ICC on 25 April 2026.

The evening featured electrifying performances, with vocalists and songwriters Mawhoo and Zee Nxumalo delivering standout sets that had the crowd on its feet.

When the nominations were finally announced, it became clear that KwaZulu Natal born female artists are leading the charge this year.

Zee Nxumalo emerged as one of the biggest contenders, securing eight nominations including Best Female Artist, Song of the Year, Best Styled Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Dance Song, Best Kwaito or Gqom, Best Lekompo Song and Best Maskandi Song.

Close behind her is Mawhoo, who earned seven nominations: Best Female Artist, Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Dance Song, Best Kwaito or Gqom, Best Lekompo Song and Best Maskandi Song.

Lwah Ndlunkulu also made a strong showing with four nominations including Best Female Artist, Best African Pop Song, Best Produced Album and Best Collaboration.

Male artists, however, are not backing down.

Sam Deep secured six nominations. His hit track Shela, featuring Nia Pearl, Boohle and Mano, appears in categories such as Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Amapiano and Best Music Video. His joint project Kings of Kwapi also earned a nomination for Best Produced Album, highlighting his impact both as a performer and producer.

Amapiano heavyweight DJ Maphorisa is also firmly in the race, with multiple nominations including recognition for Abantwana Bakho and Dlala Ka Yona in the Best Amapiano and Song of the Year categories.

Rising star Shandesh continues her upward trajectory with nominations in Best Female Artist, Best New Artist and Artist of the Year. Her viral hit Sdudla or Slender features in Song of the Year, Best Viral Challenge and Best Lekompo.

Other artists appearing across multiple categories include Ciza, Kabza De Small, Jazzwrld, Naledi Aphiwe and Thukuthela, reflecting just how competitive this year’s awards are shaping up to be.

Editorial Pick’s:

Contractual Disputes And Music Rights Are The Reasons For Maskandi Artist Sminofu’s Songs Are Removed From Youtube

Singer and Social Activist Rainym Uses Her Music to Fight GBV in South Africa

Singer Naledi Aphiwe Apologies To Zimbabwe People After Negative Comment She Made

In the Maskandi category, award winning artist Khuzani Mpungose faces stiff competition alongside Sminofu and Mafikizolo, especially after his smash hit Uyoncengwa Unyoko dominated the genre in 2025.

With the ceremony just weeks away, anticipation is building. If the nominations are anything to go by, the 2026 Metro FM Music Awards promise a fierce celebration of South African music, with women clearly leading the moment.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post Female Artists Dominate 2026 Metro FM Music Awards Nominations appeared first on MDNtv.

Earlier last month, the singer who won the “Ingoma Ehlukanisa Unyaka” competition on Ukhozi FM, announced to his fans that he will not be releasing an album this year paving a way for artists like Limit Nala, UMafikizolo, Mjolisi and Menzi for the crossover song on commercial radio stations.

Speaking to the KZN based Zulu newspaper, Mthandeni said:

“I don’t want to be seen as someone who is greedy for success. We have worked so hard to put the maskandi music in the map across the country and globally. We have to show other people from other provinces that there is many talents in this industry, only if we can open doors for others that is when our music is going to be respected globally,” he said

Mthandeni went as far as predicting that artists like Mjolisi, Limit, Smirnoff and Umafikizolo are going to take the maskandi music industry into greater heights this year as they will be competing for the song of the year respectivel..

“I believe that Umafikizolo, Limit, Smirnoff and Mjolisi are some of the artists that are going to take maskandi music to the top. We have many talented artists in maskandi industry and this time around we are very versatile and can be featured even by artists from amapiano and from house music in genres,” he said.

Mthandeni’s words emanates from the recently released maskandi songs by Umafikizolo’s Uyoncengwa Unyoko, Nkeshemba’s Ngixolele Mntanami to mention the few.

Mthandeni’s Gucci where he featured artist Mawhoo became the most viewed song on YouTube after Paris where he featured award winning Inkabi Records singer Lwah Ndlunkulu in 2023.

Attempts to get comment from Khuzani proved fruitless, text messages and WhatsApp messages were sent but they were ignored.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post Award winning artists Mthandeni Manqele and Khuzani Mpungose who are facing off for the song of the year competition appeared first on MDNtv.