Nomazulu Mguni Embraces Her Full Identity With New Afro-House Single Awulaleli

Bulawayo Afro-house and Amapiano artiste Noma Music has embraced her full name, Nomazulu Mguni, as she enters a new chapter of her musical career with the release of a collaborative single, “Awulaleli”. The singer and songwriter said the transition reflects her personal growth, cultural heritage and determination to establish a stronger identity in the music industry. Known for her distinctive blend of African rhythms, soulful vocals and contemporary house sounds, Nomazulu is using the rebrand to express a more complete version of herself as an artiste and woman. Her latest release brings together South African musical duo CASS & TUBBY and Thwasa in a collaboration that explores love, relationships and the influence of outside opinions on romantic decisions. As she continues to develop her sound and expand her creative network, Nomazulu hopes to build a sustainable music career while representing Bulawayo on a wider stage.

For Nomazulu, adopting her full name is more than a change in how she presents herself professionally. It represents a personal journey shaped by years of growth, experience and emotional challenges. She explained that Noma, the name she had used since childhood, remained an important part of her identity because it represented her beginnings and offered a sense of familiarity. However, as her life and music evolved, she recognised the need for a name that better reflected her heritage, womanhood and artistic ambitions. “The rebrand from Noma to Nomazulu was very personal. Noma was how I started, it was my childhood name, my safe space. But as I grew, especially after everything I’ve been through since 2014, I realised I needed a name that carries my full identity, my roots, my womanhood, and my power,” she said.

The name Nomazulu also carries cultural significance for the artiste, who describes it as meaning Mother of Zulu. She sees the name as a representation of heritage, strength and grace, qualities that she wants to bring into her music and public identity. By embracing her full name, she hopes to connect more deeply with her roots while expressing her experiences through songwriting and performance. The change also signals her intention to approach her career with greater confidence and a clearer sense of purpose. Although the name has changed, her commitment to African-inspired house music remains central to her artistic identity.

Nomazulu’s musical style draws from several house music subgenres, including tribal house, deep house and 3-Step, while incorporating elements of Amapiano. Her sound combines African rhythms with soulful vocals to create music that reflects both her cultural background and contemporary musical influences. This approach allows her to explore different textures and arrangements while maintaining a recognisable foundation in house music. Rather than limiting herself to one particular style, she continues to experiment with sounds that support the emotions and stories she wants to communicate. Her latest single, “Awulaleli”, reflects this creative direction by bringing together her Afro-house roots and modern 3-Step and tribal elements.

The release of “Awulaleli” coincides with Nomazulu’s decision to introduce herself to audiences under her full name. The song was inspired by a visit to South Africa, where she met the creatives involved in its production and development. During the trip, she was introduced to CASS & TUBBY, Beekay SA and Thwasa, whose musical ideas helped spark the project. The beat they created caught her attention and inspired her to begin writing lyrics that would eventually form the song. “Awulaleli came about when I went to South Africa where I was introduced to these marvellous creatives, Cass & Tubby, Beekay SA and Thwasa. I was inspired by the beat that they created and from there I started writing,” she said.

At the centre of “Awulaleli” is a message about love and the importance of making personal decisions without allowing outside opinions to control relationships. The song addresses situations in which friends, relatives or other people influence how individuals view their romantic partners. Nomazulu encourages listeners to trust their feelings and make thoughtful decisions about their relationships rather than automatically accepting what others say. The message highlights the risk of allowing external pressure to determine personal choices, particularly when it comes to matters of the heart. “Awulaleli is a love song that says, don’t listen to what other people are saying about who you love, because if you listen to them you will end up alone,” she said.

The song also represents an important step in Nomazulu’s development as a recording artiste because it reflects her growing involvement in the creative process. She wants to move beyond delivering vocals over an instrumental and take a more active role in shaping the music she releases. Through her collaboration with the South African creatives, she has had an opportunity to contribute to a sound that combines different influences and perspectives. This approach reflects her ambition to grow as a songwriter and creative partner while strengthening her understanding of music production and artistic collaboration. “This song shows my evolution. I’m not just singing on a beat anymore, I’m co-creating a sound. It blends my Afrohouse roots with modern 3-Step and Tribal elements,” she said.

Working with artistes from outside Bulawayo is also important to Nomazulu’s plans for expanding her musical reach. Collaborations allow musicians to exchange ideas, discover different production techniques and introduce their work to audiences beyond their immediate markets. Her experience in South Africa has given her an opportunity to connect with creatives whose influences complement her own approach to Afro-house music. These relationships could help her continue refining her sound while building a broader professional network. Through projects such as “Awulaleli”, she is positioning herself to explore new creative opportunities without losing the African musical identity that informs her work.

Away from her latest single, Nomazulu is preparing to perform at “An Evening with Luchi Shiki”, a project that also highlights collaboration among female musicians. She features on Luchi Shiki’s single “Senhliziyo” alongside fellow Bulawayo vocalist Holy Stacey. The collaboration reflects her belief that women in the local music industry need more opportunities to work together, share their talents and support one another’s professional development. She sees such projects as a way to celebrate the range of musical ability within Bulawayo while creating spaces where female artistes can gain visibility. For Nomazulu, these opportunities are particularly valuable in an industry where musicians often need consistent platforms to introduce their work to new listeners.

“Being part of ‘An Evening with Luchi Shiki’ and featuring on ‘Senhliziyo’ with Holy Stacey means everything to me. Bulawayo has so many talented women, but we rarely get platforms where we celebrate each other instead of competing,” she said. Her comments reflect a desire to see more cooperation among women working in music, particularly through performances and collaborative releases. She believes that when female artistes support one another, they can help create opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to access individually. Shared projects can also give emerging musicians valuable experience, encourage the exchange of skills and expose their music to different audiences. By participating in these initiatives, Nomazulu hopes to contribute to a stronger and more supportive creative community in Bulawayo.

Her commitment to music began during a difficult period in her life. Nomazulu said she started her musical journey in 2014 following the death of her mother, an experience that left her searching for a way to process her grief. Music became an outlet through which she could express emotions that were difficult to communicate in other ways. Writing and singing gave her a personal space to reflect on her experiences and find comfort during a painful period. What began as a response to loss gradually developed into a serious artistic pursuit that would eventually lead her into the recording industry.

“I began my musical journey in 2014 when I lost my mother. Music became my comfort, my journal, the only place I could truly express myself. And I became a recording artist in 2021,” she said. The years between her first experiences with music and her formal entry into recording allowed her to develop a deeper relationship with her craft. Her story illustrates how personal experiences can shape an artiste’s creative direction and influence the subjects explored in their work. While grief was the starting point of her musical journey, she has since expanded her ambitions to include professional growth, collaboration and a stronger presence in the music industry. Her willingness to draw on personal experiences gives her songwriting a foundation rooted in emotion and individual perspective.

Looking ahead, Nomazulu wants to build a sustainable career that allows her to earn a living from music while creating opportunities for other people. Her ambitions extend beyond releasing songs and performing at events, as she hopes to establish a professional foundation that can support long-term growth. She also wants to represent Bulawayo beyond the city, helping introduce its musical talent to wider audiences. Achieving these goals will require consistent releases, quality production and a clear understanding of the business responsibilities that come with being a professional artiste. “Under Nomazulu, my ambition is to make this sustainable. I want to be an artiste who can live off her art, employ others, and represent Bulawayo beyond the city,” she said.

She recognises that artistic talent alone is not enough to sustain a long-term career in the competitive music industry. Nomazulu has identified consistency, quality music, knowledge of the business side of the profession and collaborations with artistes outside Bulawayo as important parts of her strategy. Regular releases can help her maintain a connection with listeners, while strong production and songwriting can strengthen her artistic reputation. Understanding the commercial side of music can also help her make informed decisions about performances, partnerships and other professional opportunities. By combining creative development with careful career planning, she hopes to turn her passion into a reliable source of income and a platform for further growth.

The adoption of her full name marks a significant moment in this process because it brings her personal identity and professional ambitions into closer alignment. Nomazulu is using the rebrand to communicate a clearer sense of who she is, where she comes from and what she wants to achieve through music. Her Afro-house foundation, interest in Amapiano and exploration of 3-Step give her room to develop a sound that draws on African musical traditions while engaging with contemporary influences. At the same time, collaborations with South African creatives and fellow Bulawayo musicians are helping her explore new possibilities for artistic growth. These efforts form part of a broader attempt to establish a recognisable identity and build relationships that can support her career.

With “Awulaleli”, Nomazulu Mguni is introducing audiences to a new phase of her musical journey while maintaining the creative foundations that shaped her beginnings as Noma Music. The single combines a message about love and personal choice with a collaborative approach to Afro-house production, reflecting her desire to grow as both a vocalist and songwriter. Her participation in projects such as “Senhliziyo” and “An Evening with Luchi Shiki” also demonstrates her commitment to supporting collaboration among female musicians in Bulawayo. From finding comfort in music after losing her mother to pursuing a professional recording career, her journey has been shaped by personal experience and a determination to develop her talent. As she works towards greater consistency, stronger industry knowledge and opportunities beyond her home city, Nomazulu is seeking to establish a sustainable career that celebrates her cultural roots, expands her musical identity and brings the sound of Bulawayo to a wider audience.