Music
Zeze Kingston
Malawi's amapiano hitmaker, the self-styled Mayor of Malawi, with a million Facebook fans.
Quick answer: Zeze Kingston, born Robert Ching’anda in March 1993, is a Malawian amapiano singer, songwriter and TV personality based in Johannesburg. Songs like Mvetsela made him one of the country’s biggest stars, he won Male Artist of the Year at the 2023 Maso Awards, and he calls himself the Mayor of Malawi. He is married to socialite Dorothy Shonga.
From producer to star
Zeze started out behind the desk, producing music in Malawi from around 2011 before stepping up to the microphone. In 2020 he signed with Serato Media Group in South Africa, which put him at the heart of the amapiano scene.
He has said himself that South Africa’s amapiano sound changed his life. He mixes its log-drum grooves with Chichewa lyrics and R&B hooks, a blend his fans now call Afropiano.
The hits
His breakthrough came with Mvetsela, a duet with singer Temwah that became a huge hit. In December 2022 he followed it with the EP In My Zone. That year he also joined South African artists Ciza and Tony Duardo on Shugga, which he called an African love story.
Other favourites include Alamu Anu, Chule and Ndathela Pano. He keeps releasing at a steady pace: in 2026 alone he put out Ndilira Mumvula, Wale and Zonsezi Ndi Zeze.
Awards and the stage
At the 2023 Maso Awards at BICC in Lilongwe he won two prizes: Male Artist of the Year and Best Live Act. His shows are known for energy and dancing, and he likes surprises: in February 2025 he took a free street show to students at MUBAS in Blantyre.
In 2026 he has been on his Over The Moon World Tour, with dates in Johannesburg and in Tete, Mozambique.
The Kingstons
Zeze got engaged to socialite Dorothy Shonga in May 2023 and they married in December that year. In January 2024 the couple launched The Kingstons, a reality series about their life together, which got Malawians talking from the first episode.
His verified Facebook page has about a million followers, where he shares tour news, new songs and family life.
Zeze Kingston
- Real name
- Robert Ching’anda
- Born
- March 1993
- Genre
- Amapiano, Afropiano, R&B
- Known for
- Mvetsela, Shugga, Alamu Anu, Chule
- Awards
- Maso Awards 2023: Male Artist of the Year, Best Live Act
- Based in
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Spouse
- Dorothy Shonga (married 2023)
FAQ
What is Zeze Kingston’s real name?
Robert Ching’anda.
How old is Zeze Kingston?
He was born in March 1993, so he is 33 in 2026.
Who is Zeze Kingston married to?
Socialite Dorothy Shonga. They married in December 2023.
What is Zeze Kingston’s biggest song?
Mvetsela, his duet with Temwah, is the song most Malawians know him for.
Why is Zeze Kingston called the Mayor of Malawi?
It is the nickname he uses for himself on social media and on tour posters.
