Umzulu Phaqa: Inside the Unlimited World of Faith, Identity and Fearless Pop

Following the culturally resonant debut of Thakatha Njalo, South African artist Umzulu Phaqa continues to expand the universe of her upcoming album Umzulu Phaqa, Volume 1 with her latest single Unlimited Budget.

Where Thakatha Njalo introduced listeners to her world, Unlimited Budget reveals the foundation beneath it — a declaration of faith, purpose and limitless possibility. Built around the powerful phrase, “Owami uNkulunkulu une Unlimited Budget”, the song reframes abundance beyond material wealth, exploring the idea that God’s provision, power and plans exist beyond human limitations.

Blending gospel, pop and African identity, Umzulu Phaqa is creating a sound that refuses to fit neatly into one category. Inspired by icons such as Brenda Fassie and Lebo Mathosa alongside modern pop influences like Sabrina Carpenter, Umzulu Phaqa, Volume 1 explores what happens when tradition, spirituality and global pop ambition collide.

Describing the album as “controlled chaos”, Umzulu Phaqa embraces experimentation while staying rooted in authenticity. Through bold storytelling, playful creativity and unapologetic African pride, she is building a world where being from the village and dreaming globally can exist at the same time.

Ahead of performances at Basha Uhuru Festival, For You & Everybody and Rose Fest, Umzulu Phaqa speaks about faith, breaking rules, African excellence and the limitless vision behind her debut album.

Q&A with Umzulu Phaqa

1. Following the release of Thakatha Njalo, how does Unlimited Budget build on the story and themes you are introducing through your debut album?

Unlimited Budget continues the conversation that Thakatha Njalo started. I’m interested in tackling serious issues but doing it in a groovy way. There are many important subjects I want to address in society, but I also want people to enjoy the music and be drawn into the message.

With Unlimited Budget, I wanted to introduce the idea that God has no limits. The song is not just about money — it’s about faith, provision, dreams and understanding that what God has planned for us is bigger than what we can imagine.

2. The phrase “Owami uNkulunkulu une Unlimited Budget” is a powerful statement. What inspired this message, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?

I’ve been an independent artist for a while, and sometimes I think about what I need to make my dreams happen. I joke and say a huge lump sum like 100 million would change everything, but then I realised I was putting limits on God.

His plans for my life are greater than anything I could create for myself. I want people to tap into that mindset — that God has unlimited resources and unlimited possibilities.

3. You describe Unlimited Budget as a gospel-pop song. How do you balance spiritual themes with contemporary pop influences?

I’m a pastor’s kid, so having God involved in my journey was always going to be part of who I am. This industry can get scary, and I think having that balance is important.

I love pop music, I love creating, I love experimenting — but my faith is part of my foundation. The goal is to bring those worlds together naturally.

4. Umzulu Phaqa, Volume 1 is said to stretch and reimagine pop music. What does that experimentation sound like?

For me, it’s about breaking rules. There is no single right or wrong way to make music. I wanted to embrace that playful energy and childlike imagination because children create without fear.

That’s the world I want my music to exist in — a place where anything is possible.

5. The album draws inspiration from Brenda Fassie, Lebo Mathosa and Sabrina Carpenter. What qualities from each artist influenced your creative process?

Brenda Fassie’s honesty and bluntness really inspire me. She was fearless. Lebo Mathosa had that audacity and energy — she owned who she was.

Then Sabrina Carpenter represents sweetness, strong songwriting and incredible pop sensibility. Bringing those qualities together feels like a powerful combination.

6. You speak about creating music that is globally resonant while remaining culturally grounded. How do you keep your isiZulu identity central?

We are living in a generation where being African is cool. We have artists like Tyla showing the world that African sounds and identities can exist on a global stage.

There is nothing stopping a Zulu girl from being global. I don’t want to remove where I come from — I want to show people the beauty of it.

7. You describe the album as “controlled chaos”. What does that mean creatively?

The aim was never to be perfect. The music is fun, it moves around and it has different influences, but it is organised chaos.

We didn’t try to fit industry standards. We created something that makes sense to my taste, my ear and my vision.

8. Coming from rural KwaZulu-Natal, how has your upbringing influenced your storytelling and sound?

It taught me that many things can exist at the same time. I can come from the village and still dream big. Our grandparents told us stories, we grew up surrounded by colourful cultures and traditions, but we are also part of the modern world. We can exist in both spaces.

Even topics like ukuthakatha that I explore in Thakatha Njalo come from real cultural conversations. Our worlds collide in beautiful ways, and that’s something I want to capture.

9. Authenticity is a recurring theme in your work. Why is it important to champion authentic African voices today?

Being African is cool. Period. I think people want to experience honesty. Our stories, our languages and our cultures have value. We don’t have to imitate anyone else to be accepted globally.

10. With performances lined up at Basha Uhuru Festival, For You & Everybody and Rose Fest, what can audiences expect from your live shows?

WE ARE ROCKSTARS! My band and I have been preparing for months. It’s time to show people what we are made of. I’m aiming to be the best of the best, no exceptions. The live show is where people will really experience the energy, the world and the vision behind Umzulu Phaqa.

With Umzulu Phaqa, Volume 1, Umzulu Phaqa is not simply releasing music — she is building a universe. One where faith meets ambition, where African identity meets global pop, and where experimentation becomes a form of freedom. Through Unlimited Budget, she delivers a reminder that dreams do not have to be limited by what we can see. With a sound rooted in culture but reaching beyond borders, Umzulu Phaqa represents a new generation of African artists who are not asking for permission to take up space.

The message is clear: the budget is unlimited.