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From road manager to artist: ‘Sosha Nendlu’ hitmaker Ricky Lenyora reflects on his rise

Ricky Lenyora, real name Lebogang Matabane, has waved goodbye to his career as DJ Maphorisa’s road manager, becoming a rising amapiano artist with the track Sosha Nendlu.

The song, which he dropped on 25 June 2026, is a collaborative project between Ricky and heavyweights DJ Maphorisa, Candy Flow RSA, and Benzoo, featuring Bron.

Also see: DJ Maphorisa and Daliwonga set to light up Cape Town

Ricky Lenyora explains his career transition

While speaking to BONA, Rick stated that he traded life on the road for life in the studio to fully express his creative vision.

“I spent a long time behind the scenes witnessing how massive records are built, how the crowd reacts, and what makes a track truly resonate with the streets. Eventually, just managing the music wasn’t enough.”

Ricky, who is also an MC, DJ, and music producer, added that he also wanted to take ownership of his own sound, tell his own story, and create anthems that bring people together.

With a strong pull toward the booth, he created Sosha Nendlu, a personal record that reflects the ideal situation of young people in townships closing streets for street events.

“It serves as a central anchor on my latest album, LENYORA SZN,” he shares. “Conceptually, the track represents a total commitment to the amapiano genre. It’s about giving my life away to the music while making sure we are preserving and building a sonic legacy that future generations can feed on and dance to.”

 

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Also see: DJ Maphorisa reading self-help books draws mixed reviews

When asked how his song differs from other amapiano songs, the rising star, who’s rooted in the vibrant cultural heritage of Soweto, told BONA:

“While a lot of great hits rely heavily on standard commercial formulas, Sosha Nendlu is raw and tailor-made directly for the streets. It bridges the gap between pure street hype and deep, timeless melodies.”

He adds that his vocals bring a distinct, high-energy signature that instantly grabs the room. The production, on the other hand, introduces a very calculated, fresh arrangement and steers away from sounding like a club track.

What does the future hold?

For Ricky, 2026 LENYORA SZN reigns supreme.

“Fans can dive straight into my brand-new album, and they should also keep an eye out for the heavy-hitting Sosha Nendlu (Remix) featuring DBN Gogo, Tango Supreme, and Uncool MC,” he shared.

The artist, with links to DJ Stokie and more musical greats, vows to keep his foot firmly on the gas with more music videos, live performances, and high-profile collaborations.

“I’m here to learn, elevate my craft, and continue dropping the biggest street anthems of the year.”

Also see: DJ Maphorisa responds to Nota diss assumptions after banning him from ‘Scorpion Kings Live’

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