One of my favourite things to do when coming across a musician’s profile is playing their music while scrolling through their social media, perhaps hoping to grow more familiar, and just trying to align sound with a face. Sphiwe Moya, better known as Umzulu Phaqa,
becomes almost immediately palatable; it almost makes sense that the sound is hers. Her reels and pictures easily match her unique sound and vibe.

‘A pure, authentic Zulu’ is what Umzulu Phaqa means, and you can tell right away that Sphiwe delivers something close to home with culture and authenticity woven into her music. Growing up in the deep corners of KZN Manderston Thornville, she was just a girl dreaming and inspired by what she saw on television while growing up. She remembers beginning tom believe she could be something; and starting where she was, with what she had, she became who we all know her to be today.

Phaqa, being in the industry for five years now, admits to taking it one hurdle at a time, “My journey has been colourful, with ups and downs, but I’m currently in the fun era in my career, where I’m trying out new things and just experimenting, I’m not feeling under pressure about anything,” she says. Amidst the fun sound, her distinct and unequivocal element is her storytelling and cadence, and that is what makes her different; and when you stop dancing and listen attentively beyond the beat, you find that it’s probably something relatable to you.

She is one artist who understands the grind, and not a single bone of pride exists within her because she does whatever it takes to let people know about her. Revealing how she gets the word out about her shows and music outside of Instagram, she says: “As an independent artist who does not have a team, you do not have the luxury of just wanting to be cool without putting in the work. I go outside, I do free gigs and talk to people. The people who succeed are not the ones just sitting and waiting for opportunities to come to them.” She believes that having a dream and a vision is the only thing that should make a person appreciative and not
be hesitant to ask for help.

Mam’gobhozi, a song truly close to her heart, gained traction on social media, and people loved it; it was somewhat a token of reassurance that with just believing in her vision and doing the best she could, things would work out for the better. She recalls that it was a hassle. “The song was not mixed or mastered because I did not have the resources for it, so I just started promoting it on Instagram, and that is when I realized I am good at this DIY thing, so let me just run with it,” she says.

As an artist, she places herself in the position of serving and helping the next person. In the music industry, she has realized there are many people who face the same struggles, but her ability to be strategic and use what is exposed to her has given her a boost. “I want to create a space for artists that makes them comfortable with using the limited resources they have. If I can make it easier for the next person, then I would be glad to, because there’s nothing to lose in helping someone else,” she says.

Phaqa is a storyteller who loves shows, serving people with her music, whether it be a listening session or being a true performer, wearing her heart on her sleeve. Recently, she has held shows with warm and intimate vibes and the people’s response were nothing short of warm sing-longs, some cheering and some hyping up. Her recent joint album with Msfitcalled ‘And The Grammy Goes To’ has graced our ears and I am sure the crowd goes bar for bar with her when performing some of their favourite songs. And to top it all off, what’s an exceptional live performance without some movement? She takes up the whole space with her traditional element; she is free, she is active and on stage is exactly where she belongs.

When Umzulu Phaqa starts something, she sees to it that she finishes it with optimistic energy right through. Offering a unique sound, with an overflowing cup of energy, Phaqa believes in her craft, vision, and God, and that is what matters to her. These are the assistant
drivers, while she holds the steering wheel herself, on the journey to success. And this is only just the beginning, the world is yet to see something brighter with a stronger force and so much resplendence.