ByLwansta

Lwandile Nkanyuza (born 30 June 1995), known professionally as ByLwansta, is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, graphic designer, creative director, author and cultural entrepreneur. He is the founder and creative director of the multidisciplinary creative studio NORMVL, through which he has released music, published books and developed creative projects spanning design, publishing and live events.

Following the release of his debut mixtape, NORMVL Mixtape (2014), ByLwansta gained wider recognition with the extended play Your Absolutely Right (2016). In 2017, he became the first South African artist to perform on the music platform COLORS, introducing his work to an international audience. He later released the studio albums SPIJØNGET (2022) and THE CHIP IS StALE (2024), the latter receiving critical acclaim for its exploration of identity, vulnerability and creative independence.

Beyond music, Nkanyuza has established several creative initiatives, including the weekly live music platform Your Weekly Touch Up, the South African album-art archive eyewaslistening, and the memoir Really Listening: Song Lyrics That Made Me Feel Seen as a Creative Entrepreneur (2026). His work frequently combines music, graphic design, publishing and community-building, and has been characterised by his philosophy of "creating the things you wish existed".

Early life Lwandile Nkanyuza was born on 30 June 1995 in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He spent part of his childhood in Kokstad before later relocating to Durban, where he studied Graphic Design, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

During his studies, Nkanyuza began independently releasing music while developing an academic interest in visual communication and album artwork. His undergraduate research examined the relationship between music and graphic design, themes that would later inform projects including eyewaslistening, his album campaigns and his broader multidisciplinary creative practice.

Career

2014–2015: NORMVL Mixtape Following several independently released mixtapes, Nkanyuza released NORMVL Mixtape in 2014 under the newly established NORMVL imprint. The project marked an early shift toward the multidisciplinary creative practice that would later define his work, combining music, visual design and independent creative direction.

The mixtape received coverage from South African hip hop publications and earned Nkanyuza a nomination for Mixtape of the Year at the 2014 South African Hip Hop Awards. The project also established NORMVL as both a record label and broader creative platform through which Nkanyuza would continue releasing music and developing visual projects.

2016–2018: Your Absolutely Right, Hype Magazine and COLORS Nkanyuza released the extended play Your Absolutely Right in 2016. The project was included in several South African year-end lists, with publications including OkayAfrica and Texx and the City highlighting it among the country's notable hip hop releases of the year.

In February 2017, Nkanyuza was selected as one of seven artists featured in HYPE Magazine's annual Freshman Edition, an issue recognising emerging South African hip hop artists identified as ones to watch.

Later that year, Nkanyuza became the first South African artist to perform on the music platform COLORS, performing his song "Lindiwe".

2019–2022: SPIJØNGET Between 2019 and 2022, Nkanyuza released SPIJØNGET, a multipart album issued over three chapters before being compiled into a complete studio album. Conceived during a period of creative transition following his move to Johannesburg, the project explored themes of overthinking, personal growth and artistic independence.

Singles including "KICKSTAND" received international attention following their release through the French electronic label Kitsuné Musique.

In 2022, Apple Music named Nkanyuza its South African Up Next artist, recognising the release of SPIJØNGET and his growing contribution to the country's independent music scene.

The project was supported by performances at festivals and international cultural programmes, including Pop-Kultur Berlin and other multidisciplinary showcases.

2025–present: THE CHIP IS StALE and expanded creative practice Following the conclusion of the SPIJØNGET era, Nkanyuza began releasing music from his second studio album, THE CHIP IS StALE, which was issued on 10 May 2024 through NORMVL Sound. Described by Nkanyuza as an exploration of people-pleasing, self-doubt and personal growth, the album drew on his experiences as an independent artist and creative entrepreneur.

During the same period, Nkanyuza expanded his work beyond music through several long-term creative initiatives. In 2023 he launched Your Weekly Touch Up, a weekly live music platform dedicated to South African alternative music.

eyewaslistening In 2025, Nkanyuza founded eyewaslistening, a digital archive documenting South African album-cover design and the creative practitioners behind it. Published primarily through Instagram, the project highlights the designers, photographers, illustrators, stylists and musicians responsible for significant South African album artwork. NORMVL Nominated