Nigerian Afrobeats star Fireboy DML joins forces with South African artists JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela on “IMALI,” a cross-border collaboration that blends Fireboy’s smooth melodic style with the dance-driven sounds emerging from Southern Africa. The track is presented as an Afrobeats and Amapiano fusion, bringing Nigerian and Southern African influences into the same record.
“IMALI” highlights Fireboy’s continued interest in collaborations that stretch beyond Nigeria’s music scene. JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela bring their experience with South Africa’s contemporary 3-Step and Afro-house movement, adding a rhythmic foundation that contrasts naturally with Fireboy’s softer vocal delivery.
The production gives the song a strong dance-oriented character while leaving enough space for Fireboy’s melodies to remain at the centre. Rather than sounding like a straightforward Nigerian Afrobeats record, “IMALI” draws from Southern African rhythmic patterns, creating a broader African-pop feel.
Fireboy’s vocals provide the melodic anchor, while JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela contribute to the record’s Southern African identity. Their combination creates a collaboration that feels representative of the increasingly connected African music landscape, where artists from different countries continue to exchange sounds and audiences.
The track is also part of the rollout surrounding Fireboy DML’s forthcoming album ZUKO, with “IMALI” reported as one of the songs on the project.
For Fireboy, the collaboration adds another international dimension to his catalogue. After exploring Nigerian, Caribbean, and other global influences across his recent work, “IMALI” places him alongside artists closely associated with Southern Africa’s evolving dance scene.
With its infectious rhythms, melodic vocals, and cross-border production approach, “IMALI” offers a meeting point between Nigerian Afrobeats and Southern African dance music. It is a record built around movement, collaboration, and the growing musical connections between different parts of the continent.