Unathi Nkayi Biography|Age, Career, Education, Career, Marriage, Divorce, Awards

Early Life and Age

Unathi Nkayi, born on November 6, 1978, is a renowned South African singer, songwriter, actress, TV and radio personality, journalist, and author.

She was born in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Education

Unathi Nkayi attended Victoria Girls High School in Grahamstown, South Africa, for her high school education. After completing her secondary education, she pursued International Media Studies at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Later, she enrolled at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, where she earned a Master’s degree in Journalism.

• “I’m the poorest DJ”: Prince Kaybee Debunks Claims He is One of the Highest Paid Disc Jockey’s in South Africa

Career

Unathi’s career took off in the early 1990s when she auditioned for and co-produced the show “Castle Loud,” which aired on SABC 1, marking her breakthrough in TV and radio broadcasting. She continued to build her presence in the media industry with a stint at YFM from 2004 to 2020. Later, she joined Metro FM from 2014 to 2017 and then Kaya FM, where she showcased her talents until 2020.

Beyond broadcasting, Unathi Nkayi is a versatile artist, contributing her voice to Disney Channel’s “Doc McStuffins” as “Rita The Cheetah.” She also co-hosted the South African talk show “Show Me Love” and is celebrated as one of the longest-serving judges on “Idols South Africa.”

• Lady Zamar Biography: Early Life | Background | Music Career | Personal Life

As an author, she co-wrote the book “I Keep Learning” with Kabomo, offering insights into her life experiences, including her battle with depression and her journey to success in the media and entertainment industry. The book was released on her birthday, November 6, 2019.

Marriage and Divorce

Unathi Nkayi was previously married to radio host and Disc Jockey Thomas Msengana, whom she met while working at Kaya FM. They married on September 19th, 2009, but news of their separation emerged in 2017. The divorce was kept secret, allegedly due to issues of infidelity. Reports suggested that Thomas was involved in a cheating scandal in Johannesburg, which included explicit photos of another woman, Noluthando Thando Dlalisa, on his phone. Despite the challenges, Unathi and Thomas prioritized their two children and have maintained a peaceful co-parenting relationship, remaining friends.

Awards

Unathi Nkayi, as an on-air personality, has received numerous prestigious awards throughout her career:

• In 2005, she was named the Most Promising Woman in Media at the MTN Media Awards hosted by Media Magazine.
• In 2003, she won the Best Dressed Artist and Song of The Year awards at the Metro FM Music Awards.
• In 2014, she was crowned the Media Star and also received the Glamour Woman of the Year award.