IFANI IS BACK LIKE UMQOLO !!

iFani Opens Up About His Return, New Music and the Meaning Behind Msebenzi Wam

Ifani at Bush Radio with the BackChat team.

South African hip-hop artist Mzayifani Mzondeleli Boltina, popularly known as iFani, is entering a new chapter in his music career.The rapper recently sat down with BackChat on 18 August 2026 at 15:30, where he opened up about his return to the music industry, his newly released eight-track mixtape Msebenzi Wam, the unexpected
revival of his hit song “Shake” and his continued commitment to isiXhosa through music.

 

For iFani, being back in the music space feels like starting again. After spending several years away from the industry, he described the experience as feeling like he is being reintroduced to audiences. Although his career had already experienced success, he says the difficult years away from music have made this new chapter feel completely different. “I feel like I'm reintroduced,” iFani said, describing his return as a fresh start after the years he spent away from the spotlight.

Picture of Ifani performing
his new EP songs
 taken from Ifani's facebook page.

The rapper stepped away from the music industry around 2015, but he says he never believed that music was no longer meant for him. What he initially thought would be a few days away eventually became weeks, months and then years. iFani explained that something did not feel right within him at the time, and he needed to go home and figure things out for himself. The eight years away from the industry became a period of self-discovery, teaching him more about life, himself and the people around him.

His return was also accompanied by an unexpected moment that helped put his name back into the music conversation. “Shake”, originally released in 2012, found a new audience years later after gaining traction on TikTok. For iFani, the resurgence was something he never expected. He described it as something he could not have imagined “in a million years”. The song also carries a personal meaning for him because his son, Musa, was born around the same time the song was released. Because of this connection, iFani named his son Shake, and when the song resurfaced, he decided to include Musa on the remix.

The renewed attention surrounding “Shake” also created an interesting connection between two generations of listeners. Some fans remember the song from when it was first released, while younger listeners discovered it through TikTok without knowing the story behind the artist. iFani says the experience has been a mixture of both old and new audiences returning to his music. He also reflected on the people he once knew and the losses experienced during the years that followed, particularly during the COVID-19 period. At the same time, he is grateful that a new generation is now discovering his music.

Instead of simply re-releasing “Shake”, iFani chose to celebrate its renewed popularity through a remix featuring younger artists including Sosoboy Fosho, Gaffi, Khitha Pinca and his son Musa. He explained that the remix was not necessarily about adding something that was missing from the original song, but about appreciating the generation that helped bring the song back into people's lives. For him, it was a way of saying thank you to the people who helped reintroduce “Shake”, while also celebrating his new partnership with Asanda Empires.

Logo of AsandaEmpires.
 Picture taken from their Facebook page. 

That partnership forms part of the new chapter iFani is building for himself. After spending years navigating the industry on his own, he says having a team around him has changed the experience. He described it as no longer being “alone at war”, explaining that the music industry can be a battle where artists often have to fight to create opportunities for themselves. Having a team supporting him has made it easier to navigate some of those challenges and has allowed him to focus on his work while also contributing to the ambitions of those around him.

At the centre of this new chapter is Msebenzi Wam, iFani's newly released eight-track mixtape. The title, which translates to “My Work”, has several meanings for the artist. He explained that it refers to work in different forms, including the work he does as an artist, the work other people do in their professions, and imbeleko, a ceremony that he associates with the title. It also represents the fruits of his labour and the things he has achieved through his hard work.

Ifani's new released Ep 
is available on
 streaming plartforms
including Spotify.

The project also introduces listeners to a concept that iFani plans to develop further in his music. He uses the structure of a soccer match, with its first and second halves, as a way of presenting his music. As someone who describes himself as a big soccer lover, he says Msebenzi Wam introduces listeners to this format, with future projects continuing the idea. The concept is intended to become a new way of delivering his music and telling stories across different projects.

One of the tracks that stands out on the project is “West Side”, which takes iFani back to his childhood and the influence of American hip-hop culture on the communities where he grew up. He recalled watching television and listening to music while looking up to the rappers who represented the West Side. He also remembers older people in his community embracing the culture, from the music and clothing to the language and names associated with American hip-hop. Through the song, iFani revisits that environment and the cultural influences that shaped him as a young person.

Another important part of iFani's music is his deliberate use of isiXhosa. He says choosing to rap in isiXhosa was never a mistake and remains a conscious decision. For him, music is a way of preserving the language and making sure that future generations continue to speak and understand it. He believes that with English dominating technology, social media and much of today's music, artists also have a responsibility to use African languages more often. His approach is to speak isiXhosa, sing in it and make it entertaining so that younger generations can connect with the language.

 

Ifani about to sign the wall
of fame @Bushradio.

For iFani, this purpose goes beyond simply making music. Before becoming a musician, he was a professional engineer, and he says he was taught that people should use their knowledge and abilities to make an impact on society. He now sees his role as a musician as another way of contributing to future generations. His music therefore becomes more than entertainment; it is also a way of leaving something behind that can continue beyond his own career.

The years away from music have also changed how iFani approaches his artistry. When asked what he would tell the younger version of himself if they met in the studio today, his answer was simple: relax. He explained that he used to feel the need to know everything happening around him so that he could direct everything in a particular way. With experience, however, he has learned that some things have to be released and trusted, allowing the pieces to fall into place.

That growth is reflected in the music he is now making. iFani says listeners can expect different sides of his personality in the project, from humour and serious moments to stories that may shock people or leave them questioning what they have just heard. He describes himself as an engineer in the music space and says the project is built and designed with intention.

Ifani signing the wall of fame.

His definition of success has also changed. Today, iFani says success has two sides: his own personal happiness and the success of the team he works with. Being able to spend time with his children is important to him, while he also wants to contribute to the dreams and ambitions of the people around him. For iFani, winning is no longer only about individual achievements; it is also about seeing the people he works with succeed.

As he continues building towards 3rd Quadrant, Msebenzi Wam represents an artist returning with a deeper understanding of himself, his culture and his purpose. His journey has taken him away from the spotlight and brought him back into it through an unexpected revival of a song from more than a decade ago. Now, with new music, a new team and a renewed commitment to isiXhosa, iFani is not simply returning to the artist he was before. He is introducing audiences to who he has become.

Fans can follow iFani on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook under the name iFani.

Written By Unathi Ngomana