Deep Root Records Welcomes South African Star CIZA to Its Artist Roster

Deep Root Records, the record label and artist management company founded by music producer Francis Mercier and entrepreneur Ajamu Kambon, is excited to welcome a new artist to its roster: South African DJ, producer, and recording artist CIZA.

Born Nkululeko Nciza in Benoni, South Africa, CIZA is a young artist who is redefining the African sound with bold, genre-blending music. His work spans Afro House, 3-step, and the broader dance and electronic music scene. CIZA has built a catalogue that seamlessly moves between club culture and global streaming audiences while maintaining his African identity. As of May 2026, Deep Root Records officially welcomed CIZA to its management roster following a breakout year that cemented his place as one of Africa’s fastest-rising stars. Today, he boasts over 2.49 million monthly listeners, more than 1.13 million followers across social media, and over 273,000 subscribers across digital platforms.

As the son of Nhlanhla Mafu, the lead vocalist of the Afropop group Mafikizolo, and music executive TK Nciza, CIZA has forged his own path with a focus on originality, discipline, and a pan-African vision. He burst onto the music scene in 2020 with hits like ‘Come Alive’ and ‘Adje’, quickly gaining traction across the continent. His debut EP, ‘Golden Boy Pack’, features collaborations with top African artists and showcases his versatility by fusing Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Afro Pop.

Over the past year alone, CIZA has made an undeniable impact on the global music landscape, being recognized as GQ South Africa’s Breakout Star of 2025 and Billboard’s Rookie of the Month in 2025. In 2026, he earned Artist of the Year and Best Male Artist honors at the Metro FM Music Awards, was named Breakout Artist of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards, joined the Apple Music Africa Rising Class of 2026, and received Grammy consideration for ‘Isaka II (6AM)’.

My ambition is simple: to carry Afro House to every corner of the globe, without losing the warmth, melody, and authenticity of where it came from.

- CIZA

His breakout track ‘Isaka (6am)’ became the most-played song on South African radio in 2025, holding the #1 spot for 10 consecutive weeks, while also going viral on TikTok. The song also entered the Top 20 of Global Shazam in 2025, generating more than 1.21 million Shazams and becoming Spotify South Africa’s most-streamed song of the year. Its popularity led to official remixes by Vanco, Major League DJz, and Frank Delour, as well as collaborations with Francis Mercier and Benjii.

CIZA is currently working on ‘CIZA’s Palace’, a 10-track EP that blends club-ready energy with radio-friendly hooks through a dual-format approach.

With the continued growth of CIZA’s brand and increasing global demand, a management partnership with Deep Root emerged as a natural next step. The partnership represents a shared goal between CIZA and Deep Root Records: bringing African sound to wider global audiences without compromising its cultural roots. For Deep Root, CIZA adds a fresh voice at the forefront of a new generation of African artists. For CIZA, the collaboration opens the door to expanded global reach, creative opportunities, and deeper integration into the international dance music space as he prepares for his next chapter.

Deep Root has been instrumental in accelerating CIZA’s international expansion, including securing his Schengen visa for performances in Europe. His first major European appearance will be at Deep Root Tribe’s MOGA Caparica showcase on May 30th, followed by a performance with Francis Mercier at his Solèy residency at Hï Ibiza on August 10th.

A European tour is currently underway, marking an exciting new chapter in CIZA’s growing international trajectory, and the Deep Root Records family is thrilled to be part of his journey.

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