The most dedicated fans of KwaZulu-Natal-hailing star Sjava will recognise some of the songs on iNkanyezi NeZinkanyezi from his 2025 live EPs Inkanyezi and Inkanyezi 2.0. Throughout the performances that make up those offerings, Sjava premiered as-yet unreleased music, gifting attendees a one-of-a-kind concert experience and also a view into the future of the beloved singer and composer’s musical journey. The album’s title iNkanyezi NeZinkanyezi translates to “a star among the stars”, and within it, Sjava hosts collaborators from different musical traditions and generations, all of whom bolster the singer’s vision of romance, spirituality, social reflection and tenderness. The album moves through traditional maskandi textures (“Indoda Enjani” with Umafakhiza, Dogzin and Zamoh), mellow trap moods (“Madibuseng” with LaCabra and Lowfeye), gospel devotion (“Mdumise” with Msaki and Zadok), Afropop warmth (“Kuye” with Jesse Clegg) and praise-inspired uplift (“Uyena” with Nothando Dlamini), all without ever sounding restless. Even at the album’s most experimental—like the skittering Shangaan electro pulse of “Xigugu”, which features J JOHN the big baby, Gusba Banana and Ronaldo—Sjava remains grounded, his voice acting as the unifying thread. It’s Sjava as part of a constellation, a reminder that even the most distinctive voice draws strength from the space around it.