Nitefreak builds Afro house’s next wave

When Nitefreak launched Afroholic Records, the vision was immediately imprinted on the music. The debut release, Masterclass, served as a knowing handshake between the new guard of Afro house and one of the genre’s foundational voices, pairing the Zimbabwean producer with house vocal legend Roland Clark.

For Nitefreak—born Bhekinkosi Mabhena in Bulawayo—the label quickly became the engine for a global career. Having made him a fixture on major stages like Hï Ibiza, Ushuaïa Dubai, and MOGA, Afroholic Records represented the logical next step in taking African electronic music onto the world stage.

Co-founded with Terrie T, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur based in the UK, the label was built on a clear principle: controlling the narrative. As Terrie T put it, the mission was to ensure that the music released would be of undeniable quality, allowing the artists to dictate their own story without external oversight.

To achieve this vision, Afroholic Records moved beyond featuring just its founder. The label strategically tapped into Bulawayo’s deep pool of local producers, establishing a deliberate strategy to build a rich catalog that could tour globally. This approach borrows the successful artist-development playbook from independent labels like Deep Root Records, ensuring the focus remained on creating an ecosystem rather than just a vehicle for one artist.

The early lineup reflected this commitment, featuring tracks like Wherever You Are from Nitefreak alongside artists such as Vidojean X Oliver Loenn and Murphy Cubic. This initial roster signaled that the goal was to foster a collective voice rooted in African sounds.

As Afro house continues its impressive commercial surge, the label recently deepened its impact with new releases. The latest project, Isinwika, featuring Nitefreak alongside Choujaa and Maline Aura, further solidifies the movement’s presence. In parallel, Nitefreak’s official remix of Afrojack and Eva Simons’ Take Over Control was dropped on Spinnin’, adding further momentum to the sound.

By combining the focus of Afroholic Records with the expansion of his HiNDE event brand—which has branched out from Zimbabwe to showcases in New York, Miami, and Mauritius—Nitefreak is quietly assembling something rare. He is creating a complete ecosystem where the source of the sound sits firmly at the center, building Afro house’s next essential wave.