Reason Celebrates Thuli Phongolo’s First EP, AVANA

Award-winning music artist, songwriter and producer Sizwe Alakine, also known as Reason, has taken a moment to publicly celebrate actress and DJ Thuli Phongolo following the release of her first EP, AVANA.

Reason shared his heartfelt message on Instagram, congratulating Thuli on reaching a major milestone in her music journey. The EP marks Thuli’s official step into music ownership and cements her place not only as a DJ and performer, but also as a recording artist.

In his post, Reason expressed how proud he is of Thuli and how meaningful the project has been for him.

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A post shared by Sizwe Alakine (@reasonhd_)

He wrote, “Dear @thuliphongolo, Congratulations mama!!! You finally did it!!!! I’m proud to be a part of your dream to embark on this amazing musical journey!

It’s been such a pleasure to co-produce and A&R this project with you &@sean_cooldad.

The countless hours we poured into perfecting every detail truly paid off. A massive thank you to all the incredible artists, producers, and creators who contributed to this project.

Here’s to many more beats, unforgettable moments, and all the success in the world! Sincerely, Sizwe.

P.s. You’re singing on the next project.”

Thuli responded to Reason’s message in the comments, showing her appreciation for his support and guidance throughout the process. She wrote, “Thank you, I appreciate you so much.”

The love did not stop there. Thuli also took to her Instagram stories to thank everyone who supported her, both for her birthday and the EP launch. She shared an emotional message, saying,

“OH MY GOODNESS… I’m honestly overwhelmed by the love, support, and appreciation I received for my birthday and the AVANA EP launch. Thank you to everyone who showed up, streamed, shared, sent messages, and held me down in any way. I appreciate you all so much. Mwaaaaaaah!”

AVANA was officially released on 23 January 2026 and has been a long time coming for Thuli. The project represents years of growth, learning and preparation behind the scenes. Back in October 2025, she opened up about the meaning behind the EP and her decision to take ownership of her music. She shared,

“Recently, I founded AVANA Records, a home for my music journey and the future voices I hope to champion. My first EP, AVANA, is a celebration of this new chapter.”

With the release of AVANA and strong support from industry figures like Reason, Thuli Phongolo’s music journey is clearly entering an exciting new phase.