South African independent artist Naledi Aphiwe's official YouTube Artist Channel and full music catalogue have been removed from the platform without her authorisation. The unauthorised deletion occurred just weeks before the release of her upcoming EP and has now lasted almost two weeks, despite extensive efforts by the artist and her team to restore the content.
The scale of the loss
The removed catalogue had accumulated more than 120 million views. It included music videos, audio visualisers and other creative content that played a significant role in building her career. Beyond the numbers, the channel formed an important part of her artistic identity and served as a vital bridge connecting her music with millions of listeners worldwide.
From township classroom to global stages
Born Naledi Aphiwe Myongwane on 15 December 2006 in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, the 19-year-old singer-songwriter's rise ranks among the most remarkable in recent South African music. While still a learner at Khethokuhle Secondary School, a video of her singing in class went viral and caught the attention of American superstar Chris Brown. Her distinctive vocals were sampled on “Shooter” from his 2023 album 11:11, launching her onto the international stage. She later supported Brown on The 11:11 Tour in 2024.
Building on that breakthrough, Naledi released a series of soulful Afro-pop and R&B tracks, including the breakthrough single “Ngiyabonga” and the massive 2025 collaboration “Romeo & Juliet” with Mawelele. She has collected major accolades, among them Soft'n Free Afro Pop Artist of the Year at the 2024 Basadi in Music Awards and Afropop Artist of the Year in 2025. She also became one of the youngest winners at the Metro FM Music Awards.
After signing with Virgin Music Group in early 2025, she has continued to expand her catalogue through high-profile collaborations while remaining closely connected to her township roots and family, including her sister, gospel singer Nontokozo Mkhize.
Moving forward with ownership
In a statement issued by Naledi Music Group, the team called on her loyal supporters, the Starlites, as well as members of the media and the broader music community, to rally behind her and support her next chapter. “While circumstances beyond the artist's control may have disrupted access to her past work, they will not determine the direction of her future,” the statement said.
As a fully independent artist, Naledi Aphiwe is moving forward with a new official YouTube channel. Her upcoming EP, together with all future releases and projects, will be housed on this new platform as she continues to build, expand and take full ownership of her career.