Johannesburg, South Africa – June 2025 — In a moving collaboration that cuts across borders and genres, celebrated Zimbabwean guitarist and vocalist Sylent Nqo, Zimbabwean lyricist and rapper Suhn, and South African producer Mhaw Keys join forces on a stunning new single titled “Denga” — a spiritual, genre-bending love song that blends African tradition with modern soul.
Taking its name from the Shona word for “heaven”, Denga explores the emotional weight of love — the kind that elevates, transforms, and heals. “This song came from a sacred place,” says Sylent Nqo. “It’s not just about romance. It’s about longing, faith, and the kind of love that reconnects us to something bigger than ourselves.”
Watch the official music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foGA4TKaSvw&list=RDfoGA4TKaSvw&start_radio=1
Widely known as The Guitar Sangoma, Sylent Nqo anchors the track with his signature guitar flourishes and heartfelt vocal delivery. Suhn, known for his boundary-pushing sound, delivers a poignant verse that captures vulnerability and self-discovery.
“This was unlike anything I’ve worked on before,” Suhn explains. “Sylent created a sound I’d never heard, and it pulled something different out of me. I had to dig deeper emotionally — it was a challenge, but one I welcomed. Denga pushed me to grow.”
Though Suhn did not produce the track, his lyrical presence — a blend of poetic tension and spiritual searching — adds weight. “With love, anything is possible,” he adds. “Even touching the heavens.”
At the heart of the production is Mhaw Keys, one of South Africa’s most celebrated producers. His textured, dreamlike arrangement allows the song to breathe, balancing traditional percussion with futuristic synths. “I wanted the sound to feel like a prayer,” Mhaw Keys shares. “Something that lives between memory and imagination — like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.”
Denga flows seamlessly between Shona, Ndebele, and English, making it accessible not only across Zimbabwe and South Africa but also throughout the broader African diaspora. It is a love song — not just to a person, but to African identity, culture, and sonic innovation.
“Music is one of the few things that can speak every language,” says Sylent. “And if we’re going to talk about heaven, let it sound like home.”
With Denga, Sylent Nqo, Suhn, and Mhaw Keys have created more than a song — they’ve delivered a shared spiritual experience, a Pan-African ode to love and self-expression.
About Sylent Nqo:
Sylent Nqo is a celebrated Zimbabwean-Mozambican guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter affectionately known as “The Guitar Sangoma” for the healing power of his music. Renowned for blending African roots with global sounds, he has performed alongside icons like UB40, Dr. Oliver Mtukudzi, and Hugh Masekela, and collaborated with stars such as Davido and Jah Prayzah. He was crowned Senior Solo Instrumental Grand Champion of the World in 2016 and won Best Alternative Musician at the Zimbabwe Music Awards in 2019. His 2022 debut album Sylent Treatment showcases his soulful, genre-fusing style, making him one of Southern Africa’s most respected and versatile musicians