How Billboard’s African Rookie of the Month Ciza Dominated Dance Clubs Across the Globe With His Hustler’s Anthem ‘Isaka (6am)’

Ciza always knew his time to rule would come. His father Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza co-founded TS Records in 2001 with Sbusiso Leope, a radio DJ and TV presenter better known as DJ Sbu. And his mother Nhlanhla Mafu served as the lead vocalist for the Afropop group Mafikizolo, whose 2013 international hit “Khona,” featuring fellow South African kwaito group Uhuru, won record of the year at the South Africa Music Awards and song of the year at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2014, while Mafikizolo earned a best international act: Africa nomination at the BET Awards later that year.

But the artist and DJ born Nkululeko Nciza hasn’t let the “nepo baby” stereotype affect his ascent. “Where I’m from, they’ve just embraced the fact that I’m from a musical [family]. For them, it’s like music royalty,”