Nadia Nakai Kandava, formerly known as Nadia Dlamini, is a multi-talented artist born on May 18, 1990, in Zimbabwe. She has made a name for herself as a skilled rapper and charismatic television personality, with a career spanning across both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Profile Summary
| Full Name: | Nadia Nakai Kandava |
| Date Of Birth: | May 8, 1990 |
| Place Of Birth: | Zimbabwe |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Occupation(s): | Rapper, Songwriter, TV Personality |
| Labels: | Def Jam Africa (Current), Family Tree (Former) |
| Net Worth: | $5 Million |
Early Life And Education
Nadia Nakai was born in South Africa to a diverse family, with her father hailing from South Africa and her mother from Zimbabwe. At the age of 16, she adopted her mother’s surname, embracing her Zimbabwean heritage.
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Nadia Nakai’s educational journey took her to Fourways High School in Johannesburg for a year, followed by completion of her secondary education in Kenya. She then pursued higher education at Monash University in Johannesburg, graduating with a degree in marketing, communication, and media studies.
Career
Nadia Nakai’s television debut was a triumph, as she won the Mixtape 101 competition on e.tv’s hip hop show Shiz Niz, becoming the first female champion. Her rise to fame accelerated in 2013 with the release of her debut single “Like Me”. The following year, she collaborated with Riky Rick on the remix of “Amantombazane”, alongside other prominent South African artists.
Nakai continued to release hit singles, including “Saka Wena” featuring Ice Prince and “The Man” featuring Cassper Nyovest, from her EP Bragga, which dropped in 2016. Her critically acclaimed single “Naaa Meaan” topped charts in South Africa and solidified her position in the industry.
In addition to her music career, Nakai has made a mark in television, hosting the red carpet special for MTV Africa at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards and co-hosting Yo! MTV Raps South Africa. She also released a documentary about the making of her debut album Nadia Naked, which was released in 2019.
Nakai’s success led to a record deal with Def Jam Africa in 2020 and numerous awards, including Best Female Artist at the AFRIMA ceremony and Most Stylish Performing Artist at the SA Style Awards.
In 2021, she hosted Channel O’s Gen-Z South Africa television show and left Family Tree Records to establish her own label. Her contributions to the music industry earned her a nomination for Artist of the Decade at the 2021 South African Hip Hop Awards.
Personal Life
Nadia Nakai was romantically involved with the renowned South African rapper, AKA (Kiernan Forbes), before his untimely passing.
Nadia Nakai Net Worth
Nadia Nakai’s net worth is estimated to be around $2.5 million, a testament to her successful music career, television appearances, and various entrepreneurial ventures.