iTheku eThekwini

About the project

Okmalumkoolkat has officially released iTheku eThekwini, an 11-track South African hip-hop album that places Durban at the centre of its identity. Released on 22 October 2026 through Sjambok Studios, the long-awaited project marks an important return for the Durban-born, Umlazi-raised rapper and creative, Simiso Zwane. More than a standard rap release, iTheku eThekwini is built around the energy, language, visuals, and cultural character associated with eThekwini. It arrives after an extended creative process, with Okmalumkoolkat taking time to refine the music rather than rushing the project to meet an earlier deadline.

The album was originally scheduled for 15 October before Okmalumkoolkat and his team moved the launch by one week to give supporters more time to discover the release. That decision underlined the care surrounding a project the artist has described as his most challenging record to complete. Its creation was influenced by the volume of change, cultural shifts, and information that shaped the years from 2020 to 2025. The album artwork carries the same Durban-focused vision, combining familiar city references, archival material, digital elements, Zulu dancers, coastal scenes, urban images, and Moses Mabhida Stadium. Together, the music and visuals present iTheku eThekwini as a focused representation of the city that continues to inform Okmalumkoolkat’s artistic voice.

Across its 11 songs, Okmalumkoolkat balances solo records with collaborations from Lowfeye, Musiholiq, Dusse Wavy, Nhlanhlaleyo, Khanzi Mnguni, P Dogg Amazing, Enocs Mae, Keyy Wavv, and Cid Rim. Tracks such as “Bukhoma,” “Boet Partytime,” “iBattery,” “Top 5 Milano,” “Obishini,” and “Lomdlalo Ozigcawu-gcawu Outro” provide listeners with different entry points into the album’s world. Earlier releases, including “Yinto Yabantu Ababili,” also helped build anticipation for the full body of work. With iTheku eThekwini now available, Okmalumkoolkat delivers a detailed and distinctly Durban-rooted addition to contemporary South African hip-hop.