News24 | Lwah Ndlunkulu hospitalised: Shows cancelled as singer undergoes medical procedure

Lwah Ndlunkulu has been admitted to a medical facility for a procedure.

Gallo Images/Oupa Bopape

• Lwah Ndlunkulu has been admitted to a medical facility for a procedure, forcing her to cancel upcoming shows for the next two weeks.
• Her label, Inkabi Records, confirmed she would miss this weekend’s performances in Bloemfontein and apologised to fans, promoters and event organisers.
• -The singer’s team has not disclosed the nature of the procedure, asking for understanding and support as she focuses on her recovery.

Lwah Ndlunkulu has been admitted to a medical facility for a procedure, which has forced the cancellation of her upcoming shows.

The announcement was made by her label, Inkabi Records, founded by rapper Big Zulu, in an official statement shared across social media on Friday, 9 October.

“Inkabi Records would like to inform all fans, promoters, and relevant stakeholders that Lwah Ndlunkulu has been admitted to a medical facility to undergo a medical procedure. As a result, she will be unavailable for the next two weeks, starting with this weekend’s shows in Bloemfontein and onwards,” the statement read.

The exact nature of the procedure has not been disclosed, but the label emphasised that her health and well-being are the priority.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and kindly ask for everyone’s understanding and support during this time. We wish her a successful procedure and a speedy recovery.”

The news caught many of her supporters off guard, with fans flooding social media with messages of love and encouragement.

Lwah, whose real name is Lwandile Mtshali, is one of South Africa’s fastest-rising stars in music. Discovered by Big Zulu, she has been called the First Lady of Nkabi Nation and has built a career in just three years, including multiple awards, a platinum-certified album, and chart-topping hits.

She won two Artist of the Year awards in 2024 at the Metro FM Music Awards and the Basadi in Music Awards, including Most Streamed Song. Her debut album, Imizwa, was released in November 2023, with a deluxe edition following on Women’s Day 2024.

Her breakthrough came through Big Zulu’s uMuzi eSandton, and she followed it with hits including Ithuba, which won her Song of the Year, Ngiyeza, and Mnakwethu.

Before music, she was a waitress who squatted in Big Zulu’s studio, working on her craft until her break came. She has spoken openly about her gratitude for the opportunities she has received.

Most recently, she teamed up with MaWhoo to form the Zulu Queens and released the collaborative maskandi album Isithembu on 28 August 2026.

The project bridged Lwah’s rustic sound with MaWhoo’s soft vocals and was recorded twice after the original recordings were lost. She told News24’s TRUELOVE that working with MaWhoo felt natural because of the shared energy in the studio.

She was also featured on Big Zulu’s album Umkhulu, released in May 2026, performing alongside other Inkabi Records artists at the album’s listening session at Emperor’s Palace.

For now, her management team has promised to keep the public reasonably informed about her progress. The two-week hiatus means she will miss upcoming shows in Bloemfontein and beyond, with promoters and event organisers urged to take note of her absence.

READ | MaWhoo and Lwah Ndlunkulu team up as the Zulu Queens for a joint maskandi album