Fireboy DML Releases Fifth Album ZUKO! With New Video

Danny Mdluli
Estimated read time 2 min read

Nigerian Afrobeats star Fireboy DML is stepping into a new creative era with the release of his fifth studio album, ZUKO!, accompanied by the official music video for “ONE MAN REGIMENT”.

Released on Friday, 16 October 2026, through EMPIRE, the 13-track project brings together Afrobeats, R&B, 3-Step and Afropop, exploring themes of identity, personal growth and self-discovery.

The album also strengthens the musical connection between West and Southern Africa, with South African hitmakers JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela featuring on “IMALI”. Jamaican dancehall star Masicka joins Fireboy on “CLAAT!”, while Nigerian singer Lojay appears on “C’EST LA VIE”.

For Fireboy, ZUKO! represents more than another album. Inspired by Prince Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender, the title reflects a journey of conflict, transformation and redemption, mirroring the artist’s desire to explore different sides of himself.

“ZUKO represents a new chapter in my journey, both as an artist and as a person. This project is about growth, discovering new sides of myself and pushing my creativity beyond what people have come to expect from me,” he says.

The singer also highlights the importance of collaboration, particularly working with talent from different parts of Africa, adding that he is excited for fans in South Africa and around the world to experience this next phase of his career.

Visually, “ONE MAN REGIMENT” extends the album’s cinematic direction through black-and-white imagery, bold red accents and themes of transformation. The video accompanies one of the project’s key tracks, giving listeners another way to experience the world behind ZUKO!.

Since his 2019 debut, Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps, Fireboy has grown into one of Africa’s prominent musical exports. His international breakthrough came with “Peru”, particularly its remix featuring Ed Sheeran, which introduced his sound to a wider global audience.

With ZUKO!, Fireboy continues to push his sound forward while highlighting the growing exchange between Nigerian Afrobeats and South African sounds, including Amapiano and 3-Step.

LISTEN TO ZUKO!: https://music.empi.re/zukofire

ZUKO! – OFFICIAL TRACKLIST

1.    DEAR FATHER

2.    BY FIRE!

3.    CLAAT! ft. Masicka

4.    GODDESS

5.    C’EST LA VIE ft. Lojay

6.    IMALI ft. JAZZWRLD & Thukuthela

7.    ONE MAN REGIMENT

8.    KILOWI

9.    ONAZO!

10.    SEX LOVE UNDERSTANDING TRUST

11.    LIGHT OF DAWN

12.    MIMI NAWE

13.    FIGHTING

The album is available to stream now.

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Danny Mdluli https://www.dannywired.co.za/

Danny Mdluli is a South African journalist, content producer, event curator and publicist based in Johannesburg. His work focuses on entertainment, lifestyle, and fashion journalism, alongside music production, artist development, and event organization within the South African creative industry.

With a strong background spanning both media and music, he is also involved in public relations and creative communications. Danny has contributed to the development and promotion of emerging and established artists, working on projects that blend contemporary African sounds with jazz, gospel, and urban music influences.

He is actively engaged in event curation and the broader creative economy, with a focus on building sustainable platforms for local talent. His work reflects a commitment to growing the South African entertainment industry through collaboration, mentorship, and independent creative initiatives.

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