This issue coincides with the 50th anniversary of the June 16 Soweto Uprising. In commemoration, we are throwing it forward by handpicking four of the hottest young stars weve billed the Class of 2026.
Leading the pack is the class prefect, Tyla, who is set to drop her long-awaited sophomore album, APop, in a months time. Before Tyla became a global pop superstar, SMag was the first to put her on a magazine cover, in June 2023.
She now returns as a global megastar in an SMag exclusive, joined by fresh-faced local talent Rapper K.Keed, who is shaping hip hops next 10 years, while Scandal! actor Litlhonolofatso Litlhakanyane is already a South African Film and Television Award Safta winner at 16. His former Scandal! co-star, Zekhethelo Zondi, is lighting up the big screen as a lead in local film Laundry. Together, they are the bright next-gen stars to watch.
