Biography

Nkosinathi Mankayi, who operates under the moniker Nathi, is a popular South African singer and songwriter with a velvety croon and a talent for pairing mellow, inward-looking Afro-soul with smooth, Afro-pop-tinged contemporary R&B. Nathi became a household name in 2014 with the arrival of his debut album, Buyelekhaya, which went triple platinum on the strength of the blockbuster single "Nomvula." One of five siblings, Mankayi was born in Eastern Cape, South Africa, in the small town of Mthatha, and raised in Maclear, where music and drawing became his passions. His early life was marked by troubles with the law, and after serving four years of an eight-year sentence in prison for robbery, he turned his attention to a career in music. In 2014 he took home the top prize in a local music competition and caught the attention of rising star Vusi Nova, who asked Mankayi to feature on the single "Noma Kanjan," which became a hit. Later that year he released his first single, the sultry "Nomvule," ahead of the arrival of his debut full-length effort, Buyelekhaya. The chart-topping "Nomvula" made Mankayi an overnight sensation and helped Buyelekhaya go platinum in just six weeks, and eventually triple platinum -- he took home multiple trophies at the 22nd South African Music Awards. His sophomore effort, 2016's Umbulelo Wam, didn't reach the same commercial heights, but it still managed to make considerable waves on the online music charts. Two years later, after getting married and having his first child, Mankayi returned with his third album, the upbeat Iphupha Labantu. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi