South African amapiano luminary Kelvin Momo has achieved a landmark moment with the release of his 29-track opus, Thato Ya Modimo, a deeply personal and genre-defining body of work that has already broken multiple streaming records and cemented his status as a global innovator in amapiano.
Originally released on Friday, 30 May 2025, Thato Ya Modimo is Kelvin Momo’s most ambitious and emotionally charged project to date. The album debuted at #8 on Spotify’s Top Global Albums, making it one of the highest-charting amapiano albums of all time, while also becoming the most-streamed album in the first 24 hours on Spotify South Africa, amassing over 1.8 million streams, a record previously held by his own 2024 release, Sewe.
Within days of release, Thato Ya Modimo surpassed 10 million streams across all DSPs. At the same time, all 29 tracks entered the Apple Music Top 50, a rare and powerful statement of both quality and demand.
The new album, a follow-up to 2024’s critically acclaimed Ntsako, declares identity, growth, and sonic mastery. “Thato is a journey back to self,” says Momo. “It’s my name, my sound, and my spirit shared with everyone who’s grown with me.”
The album opens with the soul-stirring “Buya”, a final, transcendent collaboration with the late Yallunder, their musical chemistry now immortalised in this poignant farewell. Thato Ya Modimo also features an all-star lineup of frequent collaborators and amapiano architects, including Murumba Pitch, Babalwa M, Stixx, and Thatohatsi, as well as powerful new voices like gospel powerhouse Nontokozo Mkhize and rising talent Jinger Stone.
Highlights include the hypnotic “Ethongweni”, a standout collaboration with Kabza De Small and Cnethemba Gonelo, and the triumphant return of fan-favourite series entry “Soweto Grooves 3.0”, a continuation of one of Momo’s most beloved sonic motifs.
The project is sonically enriched by co-production from trusted allies, including Da Muziqal Chef, Tycoon, Omit ST, Nvcho, and Stixx. It blends deeply melodic piano layers, textured percussion, and spiritual resonance—all hallmarks of Kelvin Momo’s signature style.
Thato Ya Modimo arrives just ahead of Momo’s historic headline set at Red Bull Symphonic Johannesburg — a first-of-its-kind orchestral showcase that will reimagine his catalogue in an entirely new dimension, further affirming his role as one of amapiano’s most progressive and respected storytellers.
Listen to Thato Ya Modimo by Kevin Momo
