Singer Naledi Aphiwe has been dealt a major blow after her official YouTube Artist Channel and entire music catalogue were removed from the platform without her authorisation.
The removal has reportedly been ongoing for almost two weeks, with the singer and her team attempting to have the catalogue restored. The setback comes just weeks before the release of her highly anticipated upcoming EP.
According to a statement issued on behalf of Aphiwe, the missing catalogue had accumulated more than 120 million views and included music videos, audio visualisers and other content that formed an important part of her career.
The statement said: “Naledi Aphiwe’s official YouTube Artist Channel, along with her existing catalogue, has been removed from the platform without her authorisation, just weeks ahead of the release of her upcoming EP.”
“It has now been almost two weeks since the unauthorised removal, and despite extensive efforts by Naledi and her team, her catalogue has yet to be restored.”
More than 120 million views lost
The disappearance represents more than simply the loss of a YouTube page.
Aphiwe’s catalogue had built up more than 120 million views, making the platform an important part of her connection with audiences in South Africa and internationally.
Her statement described the catalogue as being central to her identity as an artist.
“The removed catalogue, which had accumulated more than 120 million views, comprised music videos, audio visualisers and other content that played a significant role in Naledi’s career,” the statement said.
“Beyond the numbers, the channel formed an important part of her artistic identity and served as a bridge connecting her music with millions of listeners around the world.”
The incident also comes at a particularly important stage in Aphiwe’s career, with new music expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Naledi chooses to move forward
Despite the loss of her catalogue, Aphiwe and her team have indicated that she does not intend to allow the setback to derail her career.
Instead, the singer is launching a new official YouTube channel, where her upcoming EP and future releases will be housed.
“As a fully independent artist, Naledi Aphiwe is moving forward with a new official YouTube channel,” her statement said.
“Her upcoming EP, as well as all future releases and projects thereafter, will be housed under a new official platform as she continues to build, expand and take ownership of her career.”
The move marks a fresh chapter for the young singer, who has built a significant following since breaking into the South African music scene.
Aphiwe first gained international attention after her vocals were sampled on Chris Brown’s 2023 album 11:11. She has since established herself as a recording artist in her own right and has earned recognition at the Basadi in Music Awards.
A call to the Starlites
Her team has also called on her supporters, known as the Starlites, together with the media and wider music industry, to support her as she rebuilds her YouTube presence.
“We call on her loyal supporters, the Starlites, as well as members of the media and the broader music community, to rally behind her and support her next chapter,” the statement said.
“While circumstances beyond the artist’s control may have disrupted access to her past work, they will not determine the direction of her future.”
For now, the circumstances surrounding the removal remain unclear from the statement, which describes it as an “unauthorised removal”. There has been no explanation publicly detailed in the statement as to what triggered the removal or when the catalogue will be restored.
For an artist whose catalogue had amassed more than 120 million views, however, the loss highlights just how important digital platforms have become to modern music careers – and how disruptive the sudden disappearance of an established online catalogue can be.
