Mzayifani Mzondeleli Boltina, known professionally as iFani, is a South African hip-hop artist, rapper, MC, and television presenter. Born on November 20, 1985, he gained fame through his clever lyrics and the successful album I Believes in Me.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Mzayifani Mzondeleli Boltina |
| Date of Birth | 20 November 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| State of Origin | Eastern Cape |
| Partner | N/A |
| Children | 1 son (born ~2013); 1 disputed (born ~2018) |
| Occupations | Rapper, hip-hop artist, MC, television presenter |
| Labels | Sony Music Africa |
| Net Worth | ~$300,000 |
Early Life and Education
iFani grew up in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, and later in New Brighton and Motherwell, Port Elizabeth. He went to Chapman High School and Ethembeni Enrichment Centre, then studied at the University of Cape Town for BSc degrees in Computer Science (Honours) and Computer Engineering. After graduating, he worked as a process control engineer at SABMiller while rapping underground.
Career
iFani launched his music journey in 2009 with the single “Hola Hater,” which gained traction on Gauteng’s YFM radio station as part of their “Hot 9” chart. This was followed by the breakout hit “Ewe” in 2010, which solidified his underground presence through hip-hop battles and cyphers. In 2012, he signed with Sony Music Africa, releasing “Shake” and “Milli,” leading to his debut album I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant) in 2014, certified gold on release day.
The sequel, I Believes in Me (2nd Quadrant), arrived in 2015, showcasing his blend of hip-hop, jazz influences, and witty, boundary-pushing Xhosa lyrics inspired by American icons like Tupac and Wu-Tang Clan.
He expanded into television, hosting Stumbo Stomp Amapantsula on SABC1, a dance competition, and Clash of the Choirs on Mzansi Magic, where he led a choir team. Early recognition came from Hype Magazine’s Top Unsigned Hype List in 2009 and Club 808’s Boxfresh artist in 2011.
After a hiatus around 2020 to focus on family, iFani returned with singles like “Amapiano Pt.1” and “Vlone Avatar.” Recent 2024-2025 releases include “Umama (Ingoma Ezimandi),” “Ayadelela,” “February,” “Money, Power & Respect (Remix),” “One Foot,” and “Two Feet,” reflecting his evolution toward amapiano-infused hip-hop. He’s also ventured into entrepreneurship with various businesses alongside his music and media work.
Personal Life
iFani grew up without a dad. He works hard to be a good father to his son, who is now about 13. He spends a lot of time with him. There is talk of a second child around age 8, but the mom says it is not his. He does not share much about his partner
Net Worth
iFani’s wealth sits around $300,000, coming from music sales, TV gigs, and other projects.
Discography
Studio Albums
- I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant) (2014)
- I Believes in Me (2nd Quadrant) (2015)
Notable Singles
- “Hola Hater” (2009)
- “Ewe” (2010)
- “Shake” (2012)
- “Milli” (2014)
- “Amapiano Pt.1” (2020)
- “Vlone Avatar” (2020)
- “Umama (Ingoma Ezimnandi)” (2024)
- “Ayadelela” (2024)
- “February” (2025)
- “Money, Power & Respect (Remix)” (2025)
- “One Foot” (2025)
- “Two Feet” (2025)
Awards and Recognition
iFani took home Best Rap Album for I Believes in Me at the 2014 South African Music Awards. He also won Best Hip Hop at the 2015 Eastern Cape Music Awards. Earlier nods came from Hype Magazine’s Top Unsigned Hype List (2009), Club 808’s Boxfresh artist (2011), and South African Hip Hop Awards Best Freshman (2012).
