Emerging artist Credo V Daniels has landed himself amid a significant social media uproar following a live television performance that did not meet expectations.
On July 3, 2026, Daniels appeared on eNCA to give a live rendition of his song, shortly after celebrating the launch of his debut album, Still Where We Were. This television feature was intended to highlight the success of his music, especially his hit single Sedilaka, which has garnered millions of views on YouTube. However, his live delivery sparked widespread criticism regarding his vocal talent.
The disappointing performance added further weight to the rumors surrounding Daniels’ potential reliance on AI to enhance his recorded output. The live rendition did not reflect the polished sound of his studio tracks, leaving many viewers dissatisfied.
The backlash quickly reached Sol Phenduka, co-host of Podcast and Chill, who expressed disbelief at Daniels’ decision to perform live given his vocal performance. Phenduka joined other commentators in expressing embarrassment over the stark contrast between the artist’s studio output and his live ability.
This viral moment follows another dismal performance from Daniels the previous month, where audiences similarly criticized his singing, highlighting the disparity between his live voice and his recorded tracks on streaming services.
Despite the prevalent criticism regarding his vocal performance and the accusations of tech interference, Daniels has continued to hold his ground. In June, he addressed his earlier performance issues, attributing the backlash to technical difficulties.
Despite assurances from his team regarding improvements for future live shows, they also pointed out that audiences should not expect his live vocals to match the quality of his recordings.
His recent performance has intensified the discussions about whether Daniels truly possesses singing talent or if he is merely a product of the digital age, contributing to conversations surrounding AI-generated music.
Watch Credo V Daniels’ performance below.
Click here for Sol Phenduka’s response.
South African Reactions to Credo V Daniels’ Performance
Social media users reacted strongly to the performance, voicing their criticisms openly.
faglauderdale remarked:
“I wanna reach this level of delusion, he sings the way I sing with noise-cancelling headphones on.”
_ladytopaz stated:
“Oh, my soul! Why doesn’t he lip-sync? This is atrocious!”
JosiahThobejane commented:
“Shout out to him for showing up for every opportunity, though.”
Khuze_Elikhulu questioned:
“Why does he keep doing this?”
IndodaEqotho exclaimed:
“What a fraud!”
Side_To_Cide expressed disbelief:
“You guys are lying. This can’t be the real audio.”
