Eswatini cultural artist Sancheziey is preparing to release a new Afro-Pop and Umgidvo collaboration featuring South African musicians Aubrey Qwana and Senzo Afrika.
The upcoming single, titled Banemanga, blends traditional Eswatini cultural influences with modern Afro sounds and Maskandi elements in a project centred around resilience, identity and perseverance.
According to Sancheziey, the song carries a message aimed at encouraging Africans to remain focused on their purpose despite negativity and criticism from others.
“Banemanga is reassurance that where you are as a liSwati, South African or African is not by magic. You fought your way to your destiny,” said the artist.
He explained that the song addresses the reality that success is often met with doubt and resistance, particularly within communities where spoken words and public opinion can carry significant weight.
“As African children, we were raisedunderstanding that not everyone will celebrate your progress. But we also know words have power, which is why the song pushes back against negativity,” he added
The collaboration brings together three artists with strong cultural influences in their music.
Aubrey Qwana is widely known for hits including Molo, while Senzo Afrika has gained attention for his contribution to the soundtrack of the South African television drama Isitha: The Enemy.
Sancheziey revealed that the collaboration happened unexpectedly during a trip to South Africa rather than through a formal recording arrangement.
The artist said his relationship with Senzo Afrika was initially built through the success of his song Siyabonga Gogo, which helped establish mutual respect between the two musicians.
“Senzo’s music has a cultural touch. Maybe not as deep as mine, but the influence is visible,” said Sancheziey.
He further shared that after winning the Epic Gig Freshmen competition in 2024, opportunities for a future collaboration with Aubrey Qwana began to emerge, although nothing materialised immediately.
While attending a Reboot Session in Sandton, South Africa, Sancheziey informed Senzo Afrika that he was in the country.
The meeting quickly turned into an unexpected studio session involving Aubrey Qwana.
“Senzo told me he could not allow me to leave South Africa empty-handed. All in all, it was not a formally planned collaboration. I had no expectation that I would walk away with a song,” Sancheziey said.
The artist believes Banemanga stands out because of its fusion of Eswatini’s Umgidvo sound with South African Maskandi influences, creating a cross-cultural musical identity that reflects both countries.
“Umgidvo is the project’s biggest uniqueness in South Africa, so we fused it with a bit of Maskandi to accommodate both sounds,” he explained.
Sancheziey also revealed that the lyrics came to him unexpectedly before the studio session even took place.
“I woke up with the words and recorded them immediately without even anticipating a studio session. I guess the Heavens already knew,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senzo Afrika praised Sancheziey on social media, describing the collaboration as long overdue and commending the Eswatini artist’s cultural influence and talent.
“What a beautiful experience working with this humble man I met on TikTok,” wrote Senzo Afrika.
He further encouraged Eswatini audiences and industry stakeholders to support the artist, describing him as one of the country’s promising cultural voices.
Although an official release date for Banemanga has not yet been announced, Sancheziey confirmed that the song will form part of an upcoming album expected to be released later this year.
