Sun-El Musician's Co-founder Alleges R10 Million Owed in Royalties Since 2021
- Sphethelo Nkosi, who allegedly co-founded EL World Music with Sun-El Musician, posted a video making serious financial claims against the DJ
- Nkosi alleged that royalties and payments exceeding R10 million have not been shared with him or other creatives since 2021
- The video named artists signed under EL World, including Azana and Simmy, as allegedly affected parties
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Source: Instagram
A video has set social media alight, with a man claiming to be the co-founder of Sun-El Musician's record label alleging that the celebrated DJ and producer has withheld more than R10 million in royalties and payments from him and other creatives since 2021. The clip, which surfaced on 20 August 2026, is raw and unscripted, delivered with visible emotion directly to camera.
The man in the video identifies himself as Sphethelo Nkosi, originally from eSanele, who says he co-founded EL World Music alongside Sanele Sithole, widely known as Sun-El Musician. Nkosi claims the two were friends before building the company together and that, as co-directors, they signed several artists to the label, including Azana, Simmy, and others.
Nkosi's allegations against Sun-El Musician
According to Nkosi, Sun-El allegedly took sole control of the business from 2021. Since then, Nkosi claims he has received none of his share of the label's earnings. He alleges royalties alone exceed R7 million, while a separate payment from Mama Sings reportedly surpasses R5 million, bringing the total alleged outstanding amount to over R10 million combined.
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"There's ama royalties that exceed seven million, of which nami there's a percentage belongs to me," Nkosi said in the video, adding that artists who contributed creatively also had not been accounted for. He stated that emails sent to Sun-El since 2021 had gone unanswered, prompting him to take the matter to social media.
Nkosi also made a personal claim involving an unnamed female artist, alleging she had been on the Sonini project for more than nine years without receiving payment. He stated that he personally funded her private schooling in the early days of the label.
"You are not the sole owner of EL World. You are not. But why are you doing this to people?" he said, addressing Sun-El directly in the clip. He stressed that he was not seeking public attention but felt left with no other option.
These are allegations made by Nkosi. Sun-El Musician has not publicly responded to the claims. Watch the clip by @mixedrace below:
Mzansi reacts to video
Watch the video that sparked the debate here.
Mzansi had mixed reactions to the clip. Some sympathised with Nkosi, while others urged him to take a legal route rather than social media.
@SanJose414: "Should have done better after what demor did to him... so disappointed"
@mixedracedUncle: "I'd like to hear his side of the story."
@RamahlweJamai: "We were not there."
@KaizerNkabinde: "If you are a shareholder or partner. How do you let that person have sole control of the bank account?"
@reeltalk_101: "This is not our business. Go to court."
@BuhleTheFirst: "There are ways, mos, when it comes to these things... Lawyers and suits. That's how you get your money. Not socials."
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Source: Briefly News
