African music continues to make borders feel increasingly irrelevant, and Fireboy DML’s “IMALI” is another example of what happens when artists from different corners of the continent meet in the studio.

The Nigerian star joins forces with Lesotho-born producer JAZZWRLD and South African artist Thukuthela on a collaboration that brings Nigerian melody into conversation with Southern Africa’s evolving 3-step sound.

Released alongside its official music video, “IMALI” is more than a cross-border link-up. It taps into something familiar to young Africans: the ambition to make money, build a better life and keep pushing despite what the journey demands.

A Soundtrack to the Hustle

Produced by JAZZWRLD, “IMALI” combines Fireboy’s melodic songwriting with rhythmic textures associated with the emerging 3-step movement.

The result is a record that sits comfortably between contemporary African sounds without trying to erase the identities that each artist brings to the collaboration.

That makes the song particularly relevant in a South African music landscape where genres and regional influences increasingly overlap. Nigerian Afrobeats, amapiano and newer South African electronic sounds continue to find common ground, creating opportunities for artists to build audiences beyond their home markets.

At the centre of “IMALI” is the universal language of ambition.

The song reflects the desire for financial progress while acknowledging the hustle, sacrifice and determination that sit behind the idea of success. For a generation navigating entrepreneurship, creative careers and the pressure to “make it”, the subject matter hits close to home.

From Lesotho to Nigeria to South Africa

JAZZWRLD’s involvement adds another layer to the collaboration.

As a Lesotho-born producer working within Southern Africa‘s contemporary soundscape, his role highlights how African music is increasingly being shaped through creative networks that extend well beyond traditional industry centres.

Thukuthela brings another South African voice into the mix, while Fireboy connects the record to Nigeria’s globally influential music scene.

Rather than presenting these identities as separate worlds, “IMALI” allows them to exist within the same sonic space.

That cross-pollination is becoming increasingly important as African artists look beyond their immediate markets and collaborate with musicians, producers and creatives across the continent.

A Golden-Thread Visual World

The official music video, directed by Gabriel OBE, extends the song’s themes of ambition and perseverance into a cinematic visual setting.

Black-and-white imagery creates the foundation, while strategically placed red elements introduce moments of tension and contrast. A golden-thread aesthetic continues the visual language associated with Fireboy’s previous work, including “CLAAAT”.

The visual approach gives “IMALI” a polished identity without overwhelming the music itself, using colour and contrast to reinforce the song’s themes of desire, pressure and pursuit.

For Fireboy, the release also forms part of the creative journey towards his forthcoming project, ZUKO, signalling another chapter of experimentation and continental collaboration.

“IMALI” is available now on major streaming platforms, with its official music video also out now.