Kutlwano Yika doesn’t need a stage… he’s turning Joburg’s busiest curbs into concert halls, belting out soulful performances as taxis weave past and the city roars around him.
Johannesburg, South Africa (15 March 2025) – Kutlwano Yika isn’t waiting for a stage – he’s creating his own, right on the curb of Joburg’s busiest streets.
With cars rushing past and the city’s chaos as his backdrop, this young musician pours his heart into every note, turning everyday intersections into concert venues. Now, his talent is making waves beyond the traffic – he’s going viral on TikTok, racking up hundreds of thousands of views and proving that passion can’t be ignored.
For independent artists, getting noticed in the music industry can be brutal. Exposure is everything but opportunities don’t always come knocking. Some chase record deals, others hustle for gigs – Yika is out there, mic in hand, turning the city’s traffic into his audience.
His performances first caught the internet’s attention in 2022 when his raw, emotional singing stopped Joburgers in their tracks. Since then, he’s only levelled up. His latest videos on TikTok are grabbing global attention, proving that his voice belongs far beyond the streets.
Watch some of his latest videos here:
@kutlwanoyikasa 🎊🤯🎵 #capcut_edit #sama28 #fyp #singer goes viral after 2022 #clip resurfaces through #8k ♬ original sound – Kutlwano Yika South Africa
@kutlwanoyikasa 065 915 0673 🎵🎖✍️🏾 #SAMA28 #tiktoksa @kutlwanoyika ♬ original sound – Kutlwano Yika South Africa
@kutlwanoyikasa ❤️🫂🍷 #fyp #singer ♬ original sound – Kutlwano Yika South Africa
But Yika isn’t just a curbside performer – he’s an artist with ambition. He’s already made it onto radio, including a Sunday “unplugged” session on 702 and he understands the grind of being an independent musician.
“Performing on the road for travellers from around the city highlights my ambitions and has shown me what it takes to make it in the industry through being an independent artist,” he shared.
From dodging taxis to dominating TikTok, Yika’s story is a reminder that talent, grit and a little bit of Joburg hustle can take you anywhere. And if his latest success is anything to go by, this is only the beginning!
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