Fireboy DML, JAZZWRLD & Thukuthela – IMALI

“IMALI” is a 2026 cross-border collaboration between Nigerian singer Fireboy DML and South African artists JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela. The song blends Fireboy DML’s melodic Afrobeats style with South Africa’s emerging 3-Step dance sound, highlighting the growing exchange between West and Southern African music scenes.

The official music video was released in mid-September 2026 through Fireboy DML’s official channel. It presents the artists performing against sleek, contemporary visuals that match the song’s polished, dance-oriented production.

The title “Imali” means “money” in several Southern African languages, including Zulu and Xhosa. The lyrics center on ambition, hard work, and the pursuit of financial success, with repeated refrains emphasizing relentless grinding and earning. Musically, the record combines Fireboy’s smooth vocal melodies with the rhythmic, percussive feel of the South African 3-Step style.

The single was released via YBNL Nation and EMPIRE and serves as part of the rollout for Fireboy DML’s album ZUKO!. It has a runtime of approximately 4 minutes and 43 seconds and showcases Fireboy continuing to experiment with sounds from across the African continent through collaborations with South African producers and performers.

Rather than staying within a traditional Afrobeats framework, “IMALI” leans into South Africa’s dance music landscape while keeping Fireboy’s melodic songwriting at the forefront. The collaboration illustrates a broader trend of artists from different African music scenes combining regional styles to create records with appeal across the continent.