Nakhane Mahlakahlaka (born Nakhane Lubabalo Mavuso, 3 February 1988) is a South African singer, songwriter, actor and novelist.
Having grown up among a Christian community in Port Elizabeth, at 15 he moved to Johannesburg, leaving the church in 2013 and publicly celebrating his queerness with his debut album Brave Confusion.
He found both controversy and critical acclaim with his starring role in John Trengove’s 2017 feature film Inxeba (The Wound), and relocated to London to record and release 2018’s heavily autobiographical album You Will Not Die.
His work has been championed by Elton John, who interviewed Nakhane on his Beats 1 radio show, and Madonna, who cited him as one of her two favourite artists and said his music influenced her 2019 album Madame X.