For Nombulelo Malinga, 34-year-old Founder and CEO of Zizi Digital, this freedom means shaping a communications company that is unapologetically young, Black, female-led and deeply committed to driving positive change across South Africa and the continent.

“Freedom means we get to choose differently,” says Malinga. “We are free to create businesses that don’t just chase profit, but build a better, more sustainable world.”

Purpose-Driven Communications for a New Generation
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Zizi Digital is leading a new generation of thinkers, storytellers, and digital strategists who believe that success is no longer just about commercial milestones it’s about aligning brands to a higher calling.

At the core of Zizi Digital’s work is a deep commitment to supporting public and private sector initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The agency specialises in behavioural change communications across South Africa and the African continent focusing on campaigns that encourage meaningful shifts in communities and industries.

This reflects a new kind of freedom: the ability to not only speak, but to influence, educate, and inspire action in a world that urgently needs sustainable solutions.

As a signatory to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (supported by UN Global Compact and UN Women), Malinga urges other organisations to align with the SDGs recognising their critical importance in tackling South Africa’s biggest challenges, from inequality to climate change.

"Freedom Day reminds us that political freedom must be backed by social, economic, and environmental freedom," says Malinga. "Our generation has the opportunity and the responsibility to actively shape that future."

Environmental Freedom and Responsibility
Zizi Digital’s vision of leadership includes conscious responsibility toward the environment.
With a strong Environmental Policy in place, the agency prioritises sustainable practices in its operations affirming that true freedom includes securing the health of the planet for generations to come.

Recognition for Gender Empowerment
In 2024, Zizi Digital’s purpose-driven work earned the company recognition as a Top Gender Empowered Company by Standard Bank. This honour highlights the agency’s commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion, and leadership that breaks barriers to all vital elements in creating a truly free and equitable society.

Owning the Narrative, Building a Legacy
With its rallying cry “Get the Conversation Going”, Zizi Digital is proving that communications can be a powerful tool for change. By blending creativity with intention, Malinga’s team is using the freedoms of today to create a legacy where leadership is dynamic, diverse, and transformative.

"We are not just building a brand," says Malinga. "We are rewriting what it looks like to lead in South Africa and Africa, young, Black, female, and purpose-driven."

As South Africa reflects on the meaning of Freedom Day, leaders like Nombulelo Malinga remind us that freedom is not the end of the journey, it is the beginning.
It is the daily choice to lead with purpose, to drive change, and to create a more sustainable, empowered world.

Playful, soulful and full of intention, ‘All Yours’ blends a bright and uplifting soundscape with heartfelt lyrical depth—inviting listeners to stop waiting for the perfect moment and realise that it’s already here.

“The song was originally called ‘Ready’ because at the end of the chorus, I sang in Bemba - my native language. I’m essentially saying, ‘We’re ready now’.
 It’s a playful way of telling the people I love that we don’t have to wait until tomorrow for the perfect moment. We can realise our wildest dreams today, right now. Calling it ‘All Yours’ is just another way of saying the same thing, like a letter to a lover saying: ‘I’ll be all yours today.’” – Chipego.

Produced by a powerhouse trio of international talent, the track is a vibrant celebration of global collaboration where diverse musical worlds collide with joy and purpose. Behind the single is award-winning Billboard #1 producer Pilfinger (known for his work with Randy Jackson and Jordin Sparks), joined by Ugandan-Danish hitmaker Elias Njovu (of Neon Dreams) and South Africa’s own uBeyond (who has worked with Sjava). The track was co-written by Una Rams, known for collaborations with Black Coffee and Idris Elba.

Chipego is fast becoming one of Southern Africa’s most compelling new voices. Her debut album “Don’t Forget to Remember” has already surpassed 100,000 streams and received airplay on several key South African radio stations. With nearly 70,000 TikTok followers and a growing global fanbase, she’s an artist on the rise.

‘All Yours’ is more than a debut single; it’s a glimpse into One Groove’s bold nonprofit movement and its flagship platform for cross-continental music collaboration: the AmaGroove Residency. Designed to challenge traditional gatekeepers and nurture a more diverse and equitable music ecosystem, AmaGroove brings artists together across borders to co-create, connect and shape new sonic worlds.

‘All Yours’ is the first release from the inaugural Residency sessions in 2024 and marks the launch of One Groove’s new artist-first label that is committed to releasing music without compromising creative ownership or vision. The album from One Groove’s global collaboration, to be released later in 2025, will be a genre-defying celebration of co-creation, bringing together visionary talents from South Africa and Denmark including Una Rams, Amunda, Zanah African, Pilfinger, uBeyond, Elias Njovu, Zamani, OB Magik, Flame Fair and more.

With artists merging from different cultures, countries and musical styles, One Groove promises that this is music born in the spaces between worlds - a dynamic sonic archive of what’s possible when collaboration is grounded in curiosity, respect and joy.

‘All Yours’ is available on all streaming platforms.

The wait is finally over. One Groove – in partnership with the Riky Rick Foundation, AUTOR, Nirox Foundation, Koda Kultur, the Danish Foreign and Cultural Ministries respectively – is proud to announce the 14 artists from both South Africa and Denmark (7 from each country) who have been selected to participate in the 2025 AmaGroove Residency in SA.

Taking place from April 26th to May 3rd at the Kromdraai Impact and Co-Creativity Hub in the Cradle of Humankind, the seven-day exclusive Residency experience will offer these artists an intensive, generative space for co-creation, growth, and artistic exchange. The programme will also include immersive writing sessions where producers, vocalists, and songwriters come together to co-create new music, as well as panel talks, mentoring, and industry exposure. Artists will leave with new music, meaningful connections, and artistic momentum.

The talent, vision, and diversity in this year’s pool of applicants were truly inspiring. Every artist brought something special, making this one of the toughest selection processes yet. Below are the 14 artists selected:

1.       Ivee Soul (SA)

2.       Nikolaj Pellegrini (DK)

3.       Miči (SA)

4.       TMI Tammi (DK)

5.       Day 35 (SA)

6.       Elijah Kashmir (DK)

7.       Baby S.O.N (SA)

8.       Theresa Rex (DK)

9.       Umzulu Phaqa (SA)

10.  Zania (DK)

11.  Craig Lucas (SA)

12.  Elijah Okello (DK)

13.  Phonikz (SA)

14.  Karen Mukupa (DK)

The AmaGroove Residency is more than just a cross-continental music program - it's a creative movement. Designed for emerging musicians, songwriters, and producers, it offers a unique space to collaborate, innovate, and grow artistically while immersed in cultural exchange. The 2024 edition sparked the creation of 20 original songs, proving that when diverse voices unite across gender identities, genres, and geographies…the result is truly borderless music.

One standout from last year’s residency is “SAID I DO” by Chipego, a soulful track born from a late-night studio session with Danish producer Mark Fosnæs. Listen on YouTube HERE.

Get ready for more: pre-save Chipego’s new track “All Yours” featuring uBeyond, Elias Njovu & Pilfinger, also crafted during the 2024 residency, HERE.

Taking place at the Shades of Summer Boutique Hotel in Centurion, the event coincides with Freedom Day in South Africa, and ushers into International Jazz Day on 30 April, reinforcing jazz’s role in both artistic expression and cultural reflection. It is a moment to celebrate freedom, creativity, and the legacy of jazz as a unifying force across generations and borders.

The live music line-up features an unforgettable trio of award-winning artists: the powerful Siya Makuzeni, a renowned trombonist, vocalist, and composer celebrated for her genre-defying approach to jazz. Her fearless fusion of traditional African sounds with modern jazz continues to captivate audiences worldwide. the soulful Gabi Motuba, an accomplished vocalist and composer, known for her deeply emotive performances and ability to weave rich narratives through her music, and the revolutionary sounds of Iphupho L’ka Biko Big Band, the collective that blends jazz with African spirituality and political consciousness, will bring a powerful, thought-provoking performance to the stage.

The DJ line-up brings together some of the most exciting female selectors in the country: Ms Kopano Pule, Mamello Pule, Ms Elisa the Selector, and Boitumelo Pitso, each bringing their unique energy to the decks.

Adding a lyrical and reflective layer to the day, celebrated poet and cultural activist Mo’Afrika wa Mokgathi will host and perform, guiding the event through the intersection of jazz, identity, and liberation.

This year’s Heroines of Jazz is more than just a concert—it is a movement, a statement, and a reaffirmation of jazz’s evolving legacy in South Africa. Attendees can expect an evening of unparalleled artistry, innovation, and musical storytelling that will resonate long after the final note is played.

Tickets are available now at Computicket. Secure your spot for this unforgettable evening of jazz excellence!

Join us as we celebrate the trailblazers, the visionaries, and the voices shaping the future of jazz!