FEATURE: NIASHA – SIZOJABULA (Dir. NIASHA)
Music and dance – as forms of not only self-expression but also tradition, shared knowledge, and storytelling – pulsate throughout the body of NIASHA‘s work. They are a lifeblood that carries ancestral echoes into the present, where rhythm becomes a language of connection, celebration, and return. This is vividly evident in the new music video for her beautifully crafted single ‘Sizojabula,’ which bursts off the screen as a vibrant visual fusion of cultural pride and unfiltered joy, powered by the track’s effervescent blend of Amapiano and Afro House. ‘Sizojabula’ marks a defining moment in NIASHA‘s journey. Written and recorded between Harare and Melbourne, the song was born from her first trip to Zimbabwe in 15 years – a deeply emotional reunion that reconnected her with family, faith, and her creative roots. The music video, directed by NIASHA herself, is a radiant celebration of that homecoming, weaving cinematic storytelling with vivid imagery of community and self-expression. It bridges continents and cultures, crafting a sound that is both contemporary and deeply ancestral. Speaking to CLIPPED.TV, she elaborates further on the genesis of ‘Sizojabula’:
“The song’s inception was during my Zimbabwe trip in 2023, and it was definitely inspired by the joy that I felt being back home, as well as the joy that emanated from my people. Visually, I wanted to show the world my uniqueness through the choice of fashion, hair, choreography, style and personality of the visual. Some of the things that inspired me were the music videos that were coming out of the African continent, as well as drawing inspiration from artists that I love.”
The screen bursts with rich shades of blues, whites, oranges and purples; lush greens, vivid reds, and touches of gold and silver – light dances across bedazzled jewels and textured fabrics, creating a dazzling interplay of motion and shimmer. The warmth of these images, with a groove so intoxicating you can’t help but move in sync with NIASHA, draws you deeper into her performance. In a close-up, her face fills the frame, her hands gesturing outward as if to invite the viewer to join her in this vibrant expression of movement and song. Brought to life by a small but mighty team of well-respected and trusted creatives, ‘Sizojabula’ masterfully balances raw authenticity with high production value. Collaborating with cinematographer and editor Tommy Excellent and stylist and designer Ruth Juwa Dradi, NIASHA highlighted how this positive experience fostered her ideal creative space and marked a shift away from the narrative-based approach seen in her earlier release, ‘4AM.’ In ‘Sizojabula’, however, her focus turned toward a performance-driven concept that unleashed unbridled joy. She believes that different songs demand a different side to her director role. Wearing multiple creative hats on this shoot – not just as a singer-songwriter, but also as a director and producer – NIASHA reflects:
“Performing is my bread and butter, that’s the stuff that makes me NIASHA, so it can take a few takes to get me in the zone after directing the shots, but once I’ve reached a flow state and I’m comfortable, it’s uphill from there…. We had so much fun during the preparation for this video that it felt like play, which is my ideal creative environment. That’s what brought out the authenticity, and also that they understood my vision and loved the song. A performance video was the best option for this song as it allowed me to be free to express joy in a way that a scripted story […] would not have been able to capture. I think different songs demand a different side to my director role and how I would visually like to represent it.”
The authenticity that shines through the visual components of the video, shot between two distinct locations – an epic outdoor steel structure, and a warehouse that doubles as a library. The decision to pick both of these locations was made on feeling, “I wouldn’t say there was a common thread,” she says, “I picked them solely on how they felt to me […].” The video opens with NIASHA, dressed in a striking white gown, on top of the steel structure, exchanging playful glances with the camera as it glides in sync with her movements, echoing the rhythm of the performance. The coordination between NIASHA‘s expressive movement and Tommy’s lens work is at the essence of ‘Sizojabula’. Every shot feels intentional yet instinctive – a visual dance between artist and camera that captures the song’s pulse and spontaneity. Filmed on a Sony FX6 with a Sony PZ 18-110 lens, Tommy elaborates:
“The lens was an important factor as we planned a lot of shots that required a smooth power zoom, and this one had the perfect range […]. If I were to boil this video down to one element, it would definitely be movement; the stylised choreography by NIASHA carried the whole energy of the piece and dictated the way we shot and cut the edit together. This wasn’t something we specifically discussed, but rather happened naturally. In terms of the zooms, a lot of them were done in camera, but we did utilise digital zooms to affect the speed.”
Drawing inspiration from across the globe, NIASHA and her team immersed themselves in a wide range of international music videos to explore what felt authentic and visually powerful for the music video. She cites artists such as Sampa The Great and Elsy Wameyo as influences, admiring how they weave cultural motifs into their visuals to celebrate identity and heritage. The team also studied high-quality productions and colour grading from works like ‘Gorilla’ by Little Simz and ‘Abantu‘ by Ciza, drawing from their cinematic richness to craft a video that feels grounded in both tradition and global resonance. True to the song’s message of shared joy, ‘Sizojabula’ unfolds as a celebration of community. The video slowly introduces dancers – a mix of family, friends, bandmates, and collaborators – each embodying the song’s spirit. The development of the choreography, however, was more spontaneous than rehearsed. As NIASHA explains:
“Those dancers represent shamwari nehama, which in Shona means friends and relatives […]. It was ALL improvisation. The brief that I gave every cast member was to show up as themselves and move their bodies in a way that was comfortable, safe and authentic to them, that looked like and what the song was doing for them, feeling-wise. Even for the cast members who were shy, we encouraged them to show that, as it would likely resonate with someone else who had a similar temperament. Diversity in that sense mattered to me.”
The vibrancy of ‘Sizojabula’ extends beyond movement and location – it shines through NIASHA‘s striking wardrobe, born from a deeply collaborative process. Conceptualised and brought to life with stylist Ruth Juwa Dradi, each look was crafted through a shared vision celebrating culture, artistry, and individuality. Working alongside makeup artist Studio Chenayi and hairstylist Soul Sistaa (Elizabeth Benjamin) – whom Ruth Juwa Dradi described as “a dream to work with” – the team embraced the challenge of creating distinct looks that still felt cohesive. Each makeup design complemented the wardrobe, ensuring harmony between colour, form, and emotion. Soul Sistaa added:
“The base of the hair was already in five jumbo braids, so each style came from experimenting, trusting my instincts, and letting the energy on set guide the process.”
Together, they blended bold textures, radiant colour palettes, and hand-crafted details to embody NIASHA‘s Zimbabwean and South African heritage. From deep purples to fiery oranges, every piece tells a story of empowerment and identity, merging tradition with contemporary flair. As Ruth Juwa Dradi explains:
“We wanted every look to be sculptic, so Niasha would look like a goddess inspired by her heritage. The orange and purple crochet piece is a custom design inspired by African sunsets. Niasha asked me if I could make her something for the video that depicts her South African/Zimbabwean cultural background. I sketched out an initial design for her using her requested colours, deep purple and orange, and we adapted with the creative process to achieve this final result. I sewed/designed and sourced the other outfits and materials from multiple locations such as Spotlight, Shag, Salvos and even our own closets! The colour palettes throughout were intentionally bold and bright to portray the energy and joy that SIZOJABULA brings to the listener. We wanted to make sure that each look was unique yet inspired by the song; this naturally led to the looks cohesively working well together throughout the video! The goal was for Niasha to look and feel her best, so every detail mattered. We collaborated with each location to bring her vision to life.”
At the heart of this vision lies NIASHA‘s unwavering commitment to authenticity, cultural pride, and joy as an act of connection. It is undeniable that NIASHA is cementing her place as Australia’s Amapiano icon, with the spotlight quite literally on her. Speaking directly to the shared experience of the Southern African diaspora in Australia and beyond, ‘Sizojabula’ offers warmth, hope and a blazing reminder to seek out joy wherever you are in the world.
“I love directing my music videos because it allows me to dream and put my thoughts and ideas into reality […]. It was important for me to establish for the audience that joy has to come from within, an internal expression that cannot be contained and is therefore shared with others. It has to start with the self, which is contagious and undeniably transformative. I wanted to speak to the audience first, introduce myself and my joy, then introduce you to my community, who elevate my joy even more.”
Here is the official video for “SIZOJABULA“
Music Video Credits
Director: NIASHA. DOP: Tommy Excellent. Executive Producer: NIASHA. Editor & Colour: Tommy Excellent. Music Production: Ceeko & NIASHA. Mix & Master: Rayo Beatz. Stylist & Designer: Ruth Juwa Dradi. Hair Stylist: SOUL SISTA. MUA: Studio Chenayi.
