The grammy award and SAMMA award winning sound engineer turned DJ Oyama Songo is taking the local music scene by storm with the recent release of his debut single “Nkosi” this month.
Born in Engcobo in Eastern Cape, the multi-award winning sound engineer turned DJ and a performing artist is no stranger to the Industry as he’s been behind working behind the scenes and earning the respect of artists, producers, and industry leaders across the country.That experience propelled Oyama to step out of the shadows and become a fully fledged recording and performing artist. And through “Nkosi”, the maestro is asking for blessings from the higher power as he’s adding another layer to his music journey.
“Nkosi is more than a personal song. The message in it is very relatable and will resonate with people from different walks of life. I ‘m hoping it becomes a soundtrack in many households and dance floors, and motivates people to take the first steps into a fresh start and work towards positive changes, prosperity, and new opportunities.
Oyama’s love affair with music dates back to Cape Town when he was studying sound engineering at City Varsity. After completing his studies in Cape Town, he moved to Johannesburg to pursue a full-time career in music and audio production. This journey, which is the industry’s best kept secret, began at the historic Downtown Music Hub, where he started as an intern and worked his way up to become a Senior Engineer.
His biggest moment came when he was awarded a Grammy award for his engineering contribution to Soweto Gospel Choir’s Freedom Album at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019. Earning a Grammy Award is a huge deal because the “Grammys”, as they’re often referred to as, are widely considered the highest and most prestigious awards in the music industry globally, and this encouraged Oyama to work even harder. In 2021, he won a South African music award for his engineering prowess on Zoë Modiga’s album “Inganekwane” which was crowned the winner in the Best Engineered Album of the Year category at the SAMMA 27 in 2021.
Over the span of his career, Oyama has worked with some of South Africa’s most notable and influential musicians, including Sibongile Khumalo, Stimela, Zonke Dikana, Kwesta, Soweto Gospel Choir, Portia Monique, Harrison Crumpi, ChianoSky, Victor Masondo, Emtee, Saudi, Zoe Modiga, Banda Banda & The Crocodiles, Reason, Blaklez, Nicholas Payton, McCoy Mrubata, and many more.
The lead single”Nkosi” is taken from his debut album “Inkani” which is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2026 and available on all digital platforms. You can check it out on https://africori.to/_nkosi
