Ciza Biography: Age, Real Name, Parents, Songs & Isaka Rise

Ciza is a South African singer, DJ and producer whose career moved from school rap and Afrobeats into the 3-step breakthrough “Isaka (6am).” Born Nkululeko Nciza in Benoni, Gauteng, he is the son of Mafikizolo vocalist Nhlanhla Mafu and music executive TK Nciza, but his catalogue reflects a deliberate search for his own sound.

“Isaka” spent nine weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's South Africa Songs chart before a remix joined him with Tems and Omah Lay. His official X profile follows his expanding dance-music career, while XTRAfrica's verified Ciza songs page gathers his music and downloads.

Benoni beginnings: KIC, “House Party” and a changed college plan

Nkululeko Nciza was born in Benoni, Gauteng, on 23 August 2001. He is 24 years old as of 21 August 2026. His first name is Xhosa and means “freedom,” an idea he later connected to the release listeners can feel on a dance floor. His stage name comes from shortening his surname.

Music was familiar long before it became a profession. At school, Ciza performed in competitions with the rap group KIC, short for Kids in the City. He went solo at 18 and released “House Party,” a record that gained attention among nearby schools. In 2019, his matric year, he began treating music as a career rather than a hobby.

The original plan included formal study. Ciza booked a one-way flight to Atlanta to study business entertainment at Morehouse College, but the pandemic disrupted the move. As he explained in an extensive Billboard interview, that interruption also changed his musical focus. The global growth of Afrobeats persuaded him to leave rap behind and look for a sound that could connect South and West African pop.

“Come Alive” and “Adje” followed in 2020. Both introduced an Afro-fusion approach shaped by melody, youthful romance and a continental outlook.

A personal journey beyond a famous surname

Ciza's parents are central to his story without being the whole story. His mother, Nhlanhla Mafu, is the lead vocalist of Mafikizolo. His father, Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza, co-founded TS Records and later became his manager. Artists passed through the family home, and Ciza watched careers being constructed at close range. His mother also encouraged him to dance at family gatherings and school competitions.