Some collaborations feel like marketing exercises. Others feel like a genuine meeting of minds. "IMALI", the new single from Nigerian singer and songwriter Fireboy DML, firmly belongs in the second category.

Released on 22 September alongside its official music video, the track brings Fireboy together with Lesotho-born producer JAZZWRLD and South African artist Thukuthela, forging a creative bridge between Nigeria and the wider Southern African music scene.

With JAZZWRLD in the producer's chair, "IMALI" pairs Fireboy's instantly recognisable melodic songwriting with the rhythmic textures of 3 step, the sound currently evolving out of South Africa. The result is a record that celebrates cross-border collaboration while remaining deeply rooted in contemporary African music.

Thematically, the song tackles something universal: money. More specifically, it explores ambition and the hard realities that come with chasing success, from the hustle and sacrifice to the sheer determination required to build a better life.

For Fireboy, working with Southern African talent was a long-held admiration made real. "Southern Africa has an incredible musical energy, and I've always admired how its producers and artists continue to shape sounds that travel across the world," he says. "Working with JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela on 'IMALI' was an organic creative experience. It's different cultures meeting through music and creating something bigger than borders."

JAZZWRLD sees the collaboration as another step in building bridges through sound. "Music allows us to connect beyond geography," he explains. "Creating 'IMALI' with Fireboy and Thukuthela was about finding a shared rhythm between our worlds and letting the production speak to Africa, to home."

Thukuthela, meanwhile, describes the track as a statement about the continent's growing creative connections. "This record is a celebration of African creativity. We each brought our own identity into the studio, and the result is something that feels fresh and emotional."

The accompanying video, directed by Gabriel OBE, translates the song's themes of ambition, perseverance and the pursuit of success into a sleek, cinematic world. It builds on the golden-thread aesthetic of Fireboy's earlier visual work, most notably "CLAAAT". Monochrome imagery forms the foundation, while deliberate flashes of red seep through the frames, creating moments of contrast and quiet tension that mirror the push and pull of the song itself.

"IMALI" also offers a glimpse of what lies ahead. The single marks another chapter on Fireboy DML's road to his forthcoming project, ZUKO, as he continues to explore new sounds and collaborations across the continent. On this evidence, it is shaping up to be a journey worth following.

"IMALI" by Fireboy DML, JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela is out now on all major streaming platforms, with the official music video also available.