Mwaki

"Mwaki" is a song by Brazilian DJ and producer Zerb from his third extended play (EP), Surrender (2023). It features Kenyan singer Sofiya Nzau who performs the song in Kikuyu, a language spoken by the Bantu ethnic group native to Central Kenya. "Mwaki" was released as a single on 10 November 2023 through the independent record label, Th3rd Brain. A month later, it went viral on the video-sharing service TikTok.

Background and composition
Zerb discovered Nzau through vocal tracks she uploaded online and used it for his production of "Mwaki".

"Mwaki" is an progressive house song written in the key of G minor with a tempo of 120 beats per minute. The title translates to "Fire" in Kikuyu language. Nzau explained that the song is about "a woman who is in love with a man her parents are not in approval of, but she's willing to fight for him, she's willing to cover him. Just so she can be with him. Just so she can experience love."

Music video
The music video was directed by Indian director Mikhail Mehran and filmed at Hell's Gate National Park in Kenya. Zerb and Nzau appear in the video with a bevy of Kenyan dancers. The video was released on 29 January 2024.

Track listings

 * Digital download and streaming
 * 1) "Mwaki" – 3:28
 * 2) "Mwaki" (sped up) – 2:58
 * 3) "Mwaki" (slowed) – 4:09


 * Digital download and streaming – Tiësto's VIP mix
 * 1) "Mwaki" (Tiësto's VIP mix) – 2:40
 * 2) "Mwaki" – 3:28


 * Digital download and streaming – Major Lazer remix
 * 1) "Mwaki" (Major Lazer remix) – 3:15
 * 2) "Mwaki" (Tiësto's VIP mix) – 2:40
 * 3) "Mwaki" – 3:28


 * Digital download and streaming – Refreshed
 * 1) "Mwaki" – 3:28
 * 2) "Mwaki" (Tiësto's VIP mix) – 2:40
 * 3) "Mwaki" (Major Lazer remix) – 3:15
 * 4) "Mwaki" (Chris Avantgarde and Kevin de Vries remix) – 4:11
 * 5) "Mwaki" (Tyler ICU remix) – 4:02
 * 6) "Mwaki" (Duke Dumont and Kiko Franco remix) – 2:33
 * 7) "Mwaki" (ATB Anthem remix) – 3:18
 * 8) "Mwaki" (Major League Djz remix) – 5:31
 * 9) "Mwaki" (&friends remix) – 3:54
 * 10) "Mwaki" (Timmy Trumpet remix) – 2:57
 * 11) "Mwaki" (Mia Moretti remix) – 3:33
 * 12) "Mwaki" (Franky Wah remix) – 3:37
 * 13) "Mwaki" (Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano remix) – 2:12
 * 14) "Mwaki" (KVSH and Dynamick remix) – 2:42
 * 15) "Mwaki" (Skytech remix) – 2:47
 * 16) "Mwaki" (Robin Tordjman remix) – 3:32
 * 17) "Mwaki" (Kordhell remix) – 1:45
 * 18) "Mwaki" (sped up) – 2:58
 * 19) "Mwaki" (slowed) – 4:09