An Ode to Uncle Karly,

.....The new Prince of Bushfire

There are moments in entertainment when the loudest applause says more than any award ever could.

And in an industry that often celebrates what is new, Uncle Karly represents something far more difficult to achieve staying in the neck of the game, literally he is stepping on those dammn necks!!

For years, Khulekani ‘Uncle Karly’Mamba has been one of the most recognizable figures in Eswatini entertainment.

Long before social media trends dictated who was popular and long before festival lineups became social currency, he was already building a reputation as a DJ who understood exactly what a crowd needed.

Uncle Karly has been consistent for a very long time. My first encounter with Karly B, I was still wet behind the ears and I had just started my journalism career and that was in 2019.

I met him at an event, I think it was a poetry event at Mbabane Theatre Club and I immediately thought, what a good father figure, playing daddy issues, I guess?? sorry Dad had died the year before.

But he was, from what I could pick at that time, he was one of the few people who are serious, who were and still are serious about the industry, the wellness of artists, and putting together an event, right?

When I go to an event done by Karly and Platinum Concepts, which he is Managing Director of, I always know everything is going to start on time,end on time, and it's going to be a jump.

So that was my first encounter of many encounters that would later follow.

He was also and still is heavily involved with some big artists in the country, which include Zwile, Msimisi, Khole and, many others. But this is not about them, this is about Uncle Karly.

And so this is an ode to the country's uncle and the king of groove jams. Okay, I don't wanna say groove, but the king of live performances.

On Saturday, during the 19th edition of MTN Bushfire, I had the privilege of watching Uncle Karly perform main stage.

Boy, he was phenomenal. That set was phenomenal. It actually reminded me of a set he did in 2022 at Standard Bank Eswatini Luju Festival. His sets carry a certain type of nostalgia. An eerie feel of 2000s but in 2026. You get me ??

So yeah, this is an ode to the man who didn't stop believing, didn't stop pushing people, even when the odds were stacked against him, even when life and his personal matters took over, he didn't stop being the industry.

He didn't stop putting his best foot forward. And so today, we just want to say an ode to Uncle Karly.

If you've been around long enough, you would know the work that Uncle Karly has had to put in, everything that he has had to do. But of course, who would forget his time with Black Coffee.

Why would you forget that? Like, I feel like, even though I'm not the new generation, but I feel like this new generation is so lucky, they are discovering Uncle Karly now.

There are people who have just discovered him, there are people who discovered him at Bushfire and they're like, who is he? That's your Uncle bro!

But then imagine us who have been, and who also found him halfway through his trajectory. It's been amazing to see.

It's really been amazing to see. He has done so many events. I also recall a number of shows, a number of productions, a number of industry work with him, MTN and Platinum Concepts.

What I have come to respect with Uncle Karly is that he always delivers. And I was so happy when he also ventured into music. We listened to his first ever single in 2022, I stand to be corrected.

He recently did some work with Lyrical Busta . I would love to believe he is the custodian of the arts industry in the country.

Of course, we still have a long way to go in the industry, in Eswatini generally, but he's one of the few custodians we have, one of the few people you can trust to bring their A-game, to bring their professionalism, and to keep things tip-top, tip-shape.

And so this is an ode to the man who doesn't stop believing, who plays the greatest hits.

Over the years, his ability to combine expertise and experience has made him one of the country's most celebrated names in entertainment.

Whether performing for corporate audiences or social crowds, he has managed to bridge generations through music, bringing together both mature and youthful audiences through his wide musical scope.

His journey in entertainment stretches back nearly two decades. Through his work, he was introduced to some of the industry's biggest names and eventually played a leading role in entertainment and general management at the once-popular Tinkers.

Alongside friends and collaborators, he helped establish Big Fun before later founding Platinum Concepts, a company that has become synonymous with excellence in event management and entertainment services.

Through Platinum Concepts, he has helped identify, nurture and celebrate local entertainers while also facilitating and headlining events featuring both local and international stars. See the list keeps going on and on.

His work extends far beyond the DJ booth. His experience in sound engineering, project management and event production has made him one of the most respected figures in Eswatini's entertainment space.

His contribution to the arts has also gone beyond events. He has consistently advocated for local arts development, played a role in the growth of numerous artists, served on the MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table Committee and contributed as both an external committee member and judge for Spotlight Made Brighter by MTN.

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the entertainment industry to a standstill, he became the first to host a compliant and responsible event during lockdown restrictions.

He also partnered with KrTC and Daniel Toro to keep the arts alive through RePresent on DTTV, ensuring creatives still had a platform during one of the industry's most difficult periods.

His portfolio of projects speaks for itself. From the legendary themed parties at Tinkers, including Beach Parties, Mini Skirt Parties, Foam Parties and the Hansa Facebook Party, to major productions such as Storm Festival, Soulistic Nights with Black Coffee, Durban Meets Swaziland, MTN Rhymes & Laughter and The Afternoon Hangout Experience, his fingerprints can be found across some of the country's most memorable entertainment experiences.