Umlilo

{{Short description|2019 single by DJ Zinhle}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Use South African English|date=November 2021}}

{{infobox song|name=Umlilo|cover=Umlilo.jpg|border=Yes|type=single|artist=DJ Zinhle feat. Mvzzle & Rethabile Khumalo |language=isiZulu|English_title=Fire|released={{start date|2019|08|23|df=yes}}|recorded={{Start date|2019|08|18|df=yes}}|genre={{hlist|House|Dance}}|length=03:57|label={{hlist|Kalawa Jazmee|Universal Music South Africa}}|lyricist=Rethabile Khumalo|composer={{flatlist|

}}|producer=Mvzzle

| chronology = DJ Zinhle

| prev_title = Against The Grain

| prev_year = 2019

| next_title = Go!

| next_year = 2020

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Mvzzle

| type = single

| prev_title = Blackmail (Afro Tech)

| prev_year = 2019

| title = Umlilo

| year = 2019

| next_title = Uvalo

| next_year = 2020}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Rethabile Khumalo

| type = single

| title = Umlilo

| year = 2019

| next_title = Ntyilo Ntyilo

| next_year = 2020

}}

{{external music video|

{{YouTube|HDWlYhqqwTA|"Umlilo"}}}}

{{External music video|header=Music video|{{YouTube|aEWNNjiZBRk|"Umlilo 2.0"}}}}

}}

"Umlilo" is a single by a South African DJ professionally known as DJ Zinhle, released on 23 August 2019, the single features vocals from female singer Rethabile Khumalo with production from Mvzzle.

Umlilo has been certified multi-platinum and within its first three months, it reached over 5.1 million streams.{{Cite web|last=ZAlebs|date=20 May 2020|title=DJ Zinhle's Umlilo Video Reaches 3 Million Views|url=https://zalebs.com/top-of-the/dj-zinhle/dj-zinhle-s-umlilo-video-reaches-3-million-views|access-date=21 October 2021|website=ZAlebs|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021014517/https://zalebs.com/top-of-the/dj-zinhle/dj-zinhle-s-umlilo-video-reaches-3-million-views|url-status=live}}

Background

When translated, “Umlilo” means fire, translated from isiZulu to English. In the jam, three artists are grateful for what God has done to them. He has opened their eyes and ears, and they can speak because of “God’s fire alone. It is also essential to point out that each of the three artists chose their lines well.

Mvzzle contacted renowned DJ and entrepreneur, DJ Zinhle with two beats, one of which is now the smash hit ‘Umlilo’ featuring Rethabile – who had earlier DM’d, DJ Zinhle on Instagram proposing a collaboration with her, one thing led to the other and single was produced. Zinhle, in an edition of Red Bull Live With, explained to Mo Flava about the exact meaning behind the hit song.

"There has been a big debate about 'Umlilo' because it's such a big club or party song and people don't know that its actually a sing that praises God. It talks about the wonders of God's love and it is based on Bible scriptures which is amazing", explained the DJ.{{Cite news|last=Liam|first=Karabo Joyce|date=8 April 2020|title=The truth behind DJ Zinhle's hit single 'Umlilo'|work=IOL|url=https://www.iol.co.za/amp/entertainment/the-truth-behind-dj-zinhles-hit-single-umlilo-46390968|access-date=21 October 2021|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021014518/https://www.iol.co.za/amp/entertainment/the-truth-behind-dj-zinhles-hit-single-umlilo-46390968|url-status=live}}

The single was released through Universal Music South Africa on behalf of Kalawa Jazmee.

Composition and lyrics

"Umlilo" is a house track that has a touch of dance/electronic.

The song features an "upbeat tempo beat" with Rethabile's vocals quoting a Bible verse

Critical reception

The female producer DJ Zinhle was accused of buying nominations for the song and she had to clap back to clarify the mistakes made by the media.{{Cite web|date=13 July 2020|title=DJ Zinhle claps back at trolls saying she bought SAMAs nominations|url=https://www.iol.co.za/amp/entertainment/celebrity-news/international/dj-zinhle-claps-back-at-trolls-saying-she-bought-samas-nominations-50908030|access-date=26 October 2021|website=IOL|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026140835/https://www.iol.co.za/amp/entertainment/celebrity-news/international/dj-zinhle-claps-back-at-trolls-saying-she-bought-samas-nominations-50908030|url-status=live}}

Accolades

The hit-single went on to receive triple-platinum plaques,{{Cite news|last=Coetzee|first=Nikita|date=13 November 2020|title=DJ Zinhle's Umlilo goes triple platinum|work=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/amp/channel/music/news/dj-zinhles-umlilo-goes-triple-platinum-20201112|access-date=26 October 2021|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026140836/https://www.news24.com/amp/channel/music/news/dj-zinhles-umlilo-goes-triple-platinum-20201112|url-status=live}} and nominated for Record Of The Year (fan-voted) at 26th South African Music Awards. The single won a NAMA (award).{{Cite web|date=19 October 2020|title=DJ Zinhle bursts with joy as Umlilo wins Namibian Annual Music Award Read more|url=https://briefly.co.za/83299-dj-zinhle-bursts-joy-umlilo-wins-pan-african-music-award.html|access-date=26 October 2021|website=Briefly|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026140835/https://briefly.co.za/83299-dj-zinhle-bursts-joy-umlilo-wins-pan-african-music-award.html|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable"
Year

!Award Ceremony

!Prize

!Recipient/Nominated work

!Result

!{{abbr|Ref.|References}}

2020

|rowspan="2"|South African Music Awards

|Record of the Year (fan-voted)

|rowspan="2"|"Umlilo"

|{{Nominated}}

|

2021

|Best Music Video of the Year

|{{Nominated}}

|

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Africa |type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2019|certyear=2021|certref=|artist=DJ Zinhle |title=Umlilo|access-date=1 December 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Music video

DJ Zinhle released a visuals teaser of her hit single on Wednesday of {{release date and age|df=yes|2019|11|6}}. The video depicts the female DJ alongside a couple of dancers, Rethabile singing on the microphone and Mvzzle behind the decks{{Cite web|last=Jiyane|first=Ntombezinhle|date=6 November 2019|title=#umlilo music video drops next friday|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B4hF8KZDCzd/?ig_rid=91c54358-9f25-4b82-a25a-c66c8022e63f&ig_mid=11C76B8F-6144-4842-832A-14526BB03BA8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B4hF8KZDCzd |archive-date=26 December 2021 |url-access=registration|url-status=live|access-date=16 November 2021|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite news|date=7 November 2019|title=DJ Zinhle releases the official music video teaser for Umlilo|work=justnje.com|url=https://justnje.com/dj-zinhle-releases-the-official-teaser-of-the-umlilo-music-video/|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=16 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116161648/https://justnje.com/dj-zinhle-releases-the-official-teaser-of-the-umlilo-music-video/|url-status=live}}

The official full length music video was released on {{release date and age|df=yes|2019|11|14}}, via YouTube{{Cite web|date=14 November 2019|title=DJ Zinhle - Umlilo ft. Mvzzle, Rethabile|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HDWlYhqqwTA|access-date=16 November 2021|website=YouTube}}

In celebration of the song's success, DJ Zinhle released a second [Platinum] video for Umlilo in December and just a few months later, the video has reached over 3 million views on YouTube.

References