Picture: Instagram/@naledi_aphiwe_
Rising South African singer and songwriter Naledi Aphiwe has experienced a major career setback after her official YouTube Artist Channel, along with her complete digital music catalogue, was deleted from the platform without her authorisation.
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The unexpected takedown occurred just weeks ahead of the scheduled release of her upcoming EP. Despite nearly two weeks of ongoing intervention by the artist and her management team, Naledi Music Group confirmed that the original channel has not been restored.
Over 120 million views wiped out
Before its removal, the channel served as the primary digital home for Naledi’s creative output, hosting her official music videos, live performances, and audio visualisers. In total, the platform accumulated more than 120 million views, representing years of organic digital growth and building her footprint as an independent artist.
Naledi first captured national and global attention as a high school pupil in eNanda, Durban, when a classroom video showcasing her vocal talents went viral. The viral moment famously led American R&B star Chris Brown to sample her vocals on his track Shooter.
Since then, the KwaZulu-Natal-born vocalist has cemented her place in the local music industry through hit collaborations, including Mina Nawe alongside Master KG and Goon Flavour, Amen, featuring Cici, and Bheka Mina Ngedwa with Eemoh, making the sudden disappearance of her video archive a severe blow.
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“A lesson about trust”: Independent artist rebuilding from scratch
Taking to her personal Instagram account to break the news to her fans, affectionately known as the Starlites, Naledi shared the official press release alongside a poignant caption: “Here is a lesson about trust! But Ngeke kuze kuphele ngami!”
The statement sparked widespread conversation online, coming amid reports of ongoing disputes surrounding her independent management and transition away from former team structures.
Rather than allowing the disruption to halt her progress, Naledi Music Group confirmed that the singer is launching a brand-new official YouTube channel. Her upcoming EP and all future releases will be housed under this new platform as she takes direct, independent ownership of her distribution.
Industry and fan community rally behind the singer
The loss has triggered an outpouring of support across social media platforms, with fans, fellow musicians, and public figures pledging to re-stream her catalogue and boost subscriber numbers on her new channel. Supporters have emphasised that while digital numbers can be erased, her talent and fanbase remain intact.
Naledi Music Group has issued an open call to her audience, media partners, and the broader South African music community to rally behind the young vocalist as she navigates this new chapter of her career.
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