Her latest offering reflects a woman fully in bloom — balancing music, entrepreneurship, and the joy of giving back.
For Lwah Ndlunkulu, making music isn’t just about sound — it’s about soul. Each note she sings opens a world that heals her first before extending that same light to others. Her music carries warmth, honesty, and a spiritual ease — the kind that feels less like performance and more like prayer.
The KwaZulu-Natal-born artist’s new 12-track album, Amaciko, pays homage to the custodians of art and culture — the unsung creatives who keep rhythm, story, and spirit alive. It’s a celebration of the creative energy that carried her from the quiet hills of Hluhluwe to the country’s biggest stages, the ones she once only dreamed of standing on.
“Music makes me happy,” she shares gleefully while ordering pap and wors — a simple joy that mirrors her grounded nature and warm approach to life. There’s nothing pretentious about her; even in conversation, she radiates a sincerity that reminds you of home.
Her debut project, Imizwa, marked a season of discovery — a time when she was still finding her voice and her direction. But Amaciko opens a different chapter, one filled with certainty and confidence. Here, Lwah steps into her power as both an artist and an entrepreneur, defining her place in the industry with quiet authority.
“This album allows me to cement how staying true to yourself is not a problem in a world where conforming is acceptable,” she says, her tone both gentle and firm.
There’s an ease about Lwah, a calm so genuine it makes you feel like you’ve known her forever. From that deep sense of comfort, she’s been able to grow beyond the microphone — founding her own record label, Amaciko Productions, and opening an eatery that reflects her love for community, nourishment, and home.
They’re boss moves, no doubt — but ones deeply anchored in humility. When Lwandile Mtshali — her real name — left everything behind in Hluhluwe to chase her dream, she couldn’t have imagined how far that single act of faith would carry her.
“Four years later, I get to release an artist under my leadership and stable — it’s surreal,” she reflects warmly. “I was the one sleeping in studios years ago, the one who left school for the big city to pursue music. Now, being able to do that for someone else is such a big deal.”
That full-circle moment finds poetic expression in her newest venture — an eatery in Maboneng, the same neighbourhood where she once worked as a waitress before her big break. The very streets that once held her dreams now carry her legacy — a journey from survival to success, from serving tables to serving purpose.
Through Amaciko, Lwah captures that spirit of gratitude and growth in every note. “The album is a reflection of both my own experiences and the things I see around me,” she explains. “Track 1 and 2 — Ngizobonga and Ithemba — are songs of thanksgiving to God, without asking for anything.”
It’s music that mirrors her current season — one of contentment, maturity, and deep appreciation for how far she’s come. Each lyric, each beat, feels like a quiet prayer of thanks, echoing the resilience of a young woman who’s carved out her own path while keeping her heart rooted in humility.
“The different people I got to work with were truly chosen by the music itself,” she smiles. “It’s like every melody tells you which artists would best fit.” Among them is Poshani — her newest signee and a rising artist under her label, marking another proud chapter in her ever-evolving journey.
Music, to Lwah, still feels new. Still feels sacred. So fresh, in fact, that Amaciko took her just two months to complete. “It was only a matter of making time to record the music, really,” she says. “But the music was always bubbling in me. I was already ready for it.”
There’s no hesitation in her voice when she speaks about her calling — only certainty. “I feel like I am constantly in a state of being iciko (an artist). I am always ready to make music, and that’s what fuels me. That’s what has made me who I am today. And I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities my talent has bestowed upon me.”
In Amaciko, Lwah finds her rhythm, her purpose, and her peace — and in doing so, she reminds us all that art, when made with heart, always finds its way home.
