Toya Delazy – Biography, Real Name, Age and Career

Toya Delazy, born Latoya Nontokozo Buthelezi, is a groundbreaking South African artist now based in London. Hailing from KwaZulu-Natal, she has carved out her own musical space with a self-created genre called Afro Rave—a high-energy fusion of techno, drum and bass, and electronic beats blended with Zulu lyricism.

Delazy first rose to fame with her debut album Due Drop, which featured hit singles like “Pump It On,” “Love Is in the Air,” and “Are You Gonna Stay?” The album earned her critical acclaim, including two South African Music Awards in 2013, and a BET Award nomination for Best International Act (Africa).

Known for her unapologetically bold style, genre-bending sound, and fearless self-expression, Toya Delazy continues to push boundaries in music and identity—establishing herself as a voice for innovation and individuality both in Africa and globally.

Profile Summary

Full Name	Latoya Nontokozo Buthelezi
Gender	Female
Famous as	Toya Delazy
Birth Date	5 February, 1990
Age	35 years old (2025)
Birth Place	eMahlabathini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Current Residence	London, UK
Mother	Lethuxolo Buthelezi
Marital Status	Married
Sexuality	Queer
Spouse	Alisson Chaig
Alma Mater	Domino Servite School and Howard College
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter, Dancer and Performer
Years Active	2011 – Present
Genre	JEHP (Jazz, Electro, Hip-Hop, Punk)
Instruments	Vocals, Synth, Piano
Record Label	Delazy Entertainment
Instagram	@toyadelazy

Early Life

Toya Delazy was born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, into a lineage deeply rooted in Zulu history and culture. She is the granddaughter of the late Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a Zulu chief, political leader, and anti-apartheid icon, and the great-granddaughter of Princess Magogo, a revered Zulu composer and royal. This rich heritage has influenced both her musical and personal identity.

Delazy’s early years were shaped by a strong religious upbringing. She attended a convent hostel at the age of six, where she learned Catholic prayers like the Hail Mary, and by nine, she was already composing music on the classical piano. Raised by a single mother, her world changed dramatically after her mother passed away in a car accident in 2008—a loss that deeply impacted her life and shaped her creative journey.

Before fully pursuing music, Delazy was active in sports, representing KwaZulu-Natal in hockey and earning provincial honors in discus. However, after her mother’s death, her interest in athletics faded. In 2009, she completed her secondary education at Domino Servite School.

Beyond music, Toya Delazy is also committed to social causes. She supports the Princess Mandisi Health Care Unit in Ulundi, a facility that provides care for people living with HIV/AIDS—highlighting her ongoing dedication to using her platform for advocacy and healing.

Career

Toya Delazy’s big break came during a live performance where she caught the attention of producer Markus Els. Impressed by her talent, he invited her to record several tracks in the studio. The resulting demo landed in the hands of Vusi Leeuw, who presented it to Sony Music Africa. That connection led to Delazy signing a two-album deal with the label on April 19, 2011.

Her debut solo appearance followed soon after, at the 2011 Africa Day concert in Newtown, Johannesburg—where she shared the stage with African music heavyweights like Baaba Maal and Habib Koite.

Later that year, she began working on her first studio album, Due Drop, which fused genres like electro hop, soul, jazz, and a cappella into a vibrant, genre-bending sound that impressed both critics and fans. The album’s first single, Pump It On, dropped on October 28, 2011, and quickly gained traction on major South African radio stations such as 5FM and Metro FM. Delazy co-directed the music video for the track, working closely with Tristan Holmes of Star Productions.

Another standout from the album, Memoriam, was a deeply personal tribute to her late teacher and her mother, Princess Lethuxolo. Directed by Fausto Becatti, the video showed a more vulnerable side of the artist. Inspired by the emotional resonance of the song, Becatti aimed to tell a story that would connect with audiences on a heartfelt level.

In 2013, Sony Music Africa released a deluxe version of Due Drop, accompanied by a behind-the-scenes documentary titled Takes a Lot to Make a Classic, offering fans a look at the making of the album and Delazy’s artistic journey.

Toya Delazy announced on Twitter that her second album, Ascension, would be out on 28 October 2014. The lead single, Forbidden Fruit, dropped on 22 September 2014 and was produced with Craig Massiv from Flash Republic. OkayAfrica called the song one of her most exciting yet, describing it as a mix of gospel vibes, heavy drums, and sharp electronic sounds.

After this, Delazy moved to London and launched her own record label, Delazy Entertainment. On 28 March 2017, she put out a 10-track mixtape called Jetlag, featuring artists and producers like WTF, Moonchild Sanelly, Dopeboy LDN, EW, Amin, and Synesthetic.

She also voiced the character Bliss in Cartoon Network Africa’s special Power of Four, and earlier, she had done an African-style version of the Powerpuff Girls theme song, which was shared on Cartoon Network Africa’s YouTube channel.

In December 2017, Delazy released her third album, Uncommodified, which has sixteen tracks. The album features guest artists like Killason and Aaron Beezee. She called it the final part of her musical trilogy — a project that reflects her freedom as an artist and her commitment to staying true to herself. Influenced by artists like Solomun, Black Coffee, Stormzy, and Benjamin Clementine, the album blends jazz, electro, and hip-hop. Delazy helped produce four songs on the album, working with names like Wes My Meds, Silas Beats, Khwezi Sifunda, Kofski, Rob Smyls, Lawless Prod, Mantra, and Rymez. The lead single Greatest was produced by Silas Beats from Uganda. One of the standout songs, Khula Khula, talks about gender inequality in Africa.

In 2019, Toya Delazy came up with her own music style called Afro Rave, which she describes as “edgy Afropop.” Sometimes it’s also called Zulu Rave and written in different ways like Afro-Rave or Afrorave. Her first song in this style was “Funani,” which she wrote to encourage people to be themselves. In 2021, she released her fourth album, Afrorave Vol. 1, which includes a track with Young Mbazo.

Before Afro Rave, Delazy used to call her sound JEHP — a mix of jazz, electro hop, and punk (she used to say pop, but changed it to punk in 2016). Her music is inspired by everyday life and emotions. She looks up to artists like Kate Nash, John Legend, Radiohead, Tracy Chapman, Aṣa, Goldfish, Imogen Heap, Adele, Kings of Leon, Regina Spektor, John Lennon, Norah Jones, John Mayer, Black Eyed Peas, Sara Bareilles, Nirvana, Deadmau5, and Skrillex. She also fell in love with music through classical pieces like Clair de Lune and Psalms of David, and was especially inspired by Lauryn Hill after watching Sister Act.

Discography

Albums

2013 – Due Drop

2014 – Ascension

2017 – Uncomodified

2021 – Afrowave, Vol 1

Singles

2023 – Bambelela

2023 – QOBA

2024 – Zulu Gabber

2024 – Eazy

2024 – Nazo

2025 – Phalamende

2025 – Vulindlela