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In August 2025, Africa Now Radio returned with a standout episode that went beyond the music. Hosted by Nandi Madida on Apple Music 1, the broadcast featured an intimate FaceTime interview with South African R&B powerhouse Shekhinah. Coinciding with the release of her album Less Trouble, the conversation captured an artist firmly reclaiming her independence reflecting on creative freedom, resilience, and ownership.

Speaking to Nandi Madida, Shekhinah reflected on the defining moments that shaped her career from early rejection to renewed self-belief. Here’s how the interview went!

Why She Auditioned for Idols Twice

Revisiting the start of her journey in 2012, Shekhinah framed rejection as fuel rather than failure.

“I thrive off failure. I learned so much from it and it somehow pushes me forward,” she said.“Closed doors still inspire me to try and figure it out — like an escape room. How do I get out? I think that’s still in me, just with a little more caution than before.”

Staying Grounded Amid Early Success

As one of South Africa’s defining contemporary R&B voices, Shekhinah credited honesty and conviction for her longevity.

“The more honest I’ve been, the more it resonated with people. The more I stuck with R&B, the more it resonated,” she explained.“We don’t all have to put ourselves in boxes or replicate things just because someone else is doing it.”

Embracing Independence Again

A major theme of the conversation — and of Less Trouble — was independence. Shekhinah described returning to the model that launched her career.

“It’s always been my house, my home, my company — my sister, me, my dad, my best friend. We made those first albums in our bedroom and funded them ourselves,” she shared.“Taking ownership is really empowering. This is the first album we made in a studio and not a bedroom — we even have a garden now.”

The Meaning Behind Less Trouble

Conceptually, Less Trouble traced an emotional arc from chaos to calm.

“Things can start off really badly and feel catastrophic — but they always work out how they’re meant to,” Shekhinah said.“There could be trouble now, but it will subside. That’s what I want people to take from the album.”

Why Rosefest Still Matters

Shekhinah also spoke passionately about Rosefest, her women-led music festival and cultural platform.

“I wanted ownership as a woman in our industry,” she explained.“So many iconic properties were male-dominated. I wanted to start a trend for women owning their own spaces and taking business into their own hands.”

She closed with gratitude to fans who supported the sold-out 2025 return of the festival after a hiatus.

A Defining Moment of Self-Ownership

Looking back, Shekhinah’s 2025 Africa Now Radio appearance shows a moment of an artist publicly reclaiming agency, reframing success on her own terms, and building structures, albums, festivals, businesses, that will outlive trends. As Less Trouble made clear, ease did not come from avoiding struggle, but from finally owning the process end to end.