Ma-Vi

IFani Drops ‘Shake Remix’ 13 Years Later As Long-Awaited Comeback Gains Momentum South African rapper iFani, real name Mzayifani Boltina is making a long-awaited return to music with the release of his Shake Remix, arriving 13 years after his breakout hit “Shake” first dominated airwaves. The revival comes as the original track trends again, introducing his catalogue to a new generation of listeners and reigniting interest in his unique sound. Speaking about his comeback journey, iFani says the return has been defined by excitement and relief after slowly working his way back into the industry since 2023. He reflects on stepping away in 2015 following a highly publicised beef with the late AKA, coupled with mental and physical exhaustion, which pushed him to reassess his life and career. iFani also notes that tensions around his second album, which he says was pushed on him by Sony, contributed to the challenges that preceded his hiatus, with much of the strain only becoming clear after its release. “In 2015 there was the beef with the late AKA coupled with my exhaustion mentally and physically. All that added to me wanting to take a break and re-assess myself,” iFani says. During his time away, his perspective on music, fame and purpose shifted significantly. He focused on family life, simple joys, and personal growth, stepping back from the industry while finding peace away from the spotlight. “Coming back into the music space has been a deeply humbling experience. I’m grateful for the love and support from fans who have stayed with me and those who are only discovering my journey now,” he says. Seeing Shake trend again has been both heartwarming and exciting for iFani, who says it is especially meaningful as fans who once watched him perform at kids’ shows have now grown and continue to remember his work. iFani believes the resurgence speaks to the timelessness of his sound, which he describes as deliberately unique and outside of trends. He explains that his artistic identity has always been about originality, from blending isiXhosa into rap to creating music for diverse audiences including children and elders. He adds that his mission has long been to keep isiXhosa alive and engaging for younger generations, despite acknowledging both successes and failures along the way. He returns as a new signee at the label, Asanda Empires. “This new chapter with Asanda Empires is about growth, purpose, and pushing my artistry further than ever before. There’s a lot of new music and creative work on the way, and I’m excited to share it with the world.”