BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE– At exactly 11am yesterday, a familiar voice from Eswatini travelled across the border and into the studios of one of South Africa’s biggest radio stations as Sancheziey’s heartfelt hit “Siyabonga Gogo” played on Metro FM.
For the Swati artist, the moment was bigger than hearing his own song on the radio. It was a moment of cultural pride,a reminder that a song born from Eswatini’s stories, traditions and gratitude could find its way into a much bigger African space.
“It was one of those moments where words almost fail you. Hearing ‘Siyabonga Gogo’ on Metro FM was bigger than just hearing my song on the radio, it felt like hearing a piece of Eswatini being welcomed into a much bigger space,” Sancheziey said.
The Metro FM moment comes as the artist continues to build his Salukazana brand around music that blends Swati cultural sounds with contemporary African and Western influences. Sancheziey, whose real name is Mkhuleko Mangwe, has increasingly positioned his music as a vehicle for celebrating Swati identity while keeping traditional sounds relevant to modern audiences.
“Siyabonga Gogo” has become one of the defining songs of that journey. The song centres on gratitude towards grandmothers and the role they play as storytellers, teachers, protectors and custodians of family values.
For Sancheziey, however, “Gogo” represents more than an individual grandmother.
“Gogo represents more than one woman. She represents a generation,” he said. “She represents our roots, our memory and our identity.”
The song’s cultural reach was further expanded through a remix featuring veteran vocalist Lodanda Nemalangeni, rapper Young Zesh and the Limkokwing Choir, giving the emotional tribute another layer of voices and generations.
The Metro FM debut therefore arrives at a significant point in Sancheziey’s career, with the artist also pushing his latest album, uMntfwana weLive.
Released on August 7, 2026, the nine-track album presents different sides of the artist, with songs including “Utawuva Ngengoma” featuring Lodanda and Mabhodweni, “Moses” featuring MaCeleb and Young Zesh, “Halaalaa!”, “Emakalweni”, “Emaweni”, “Yemajaha!” and “Emancamuncamu.”
For Sancheziey, the album is an invitation for listeners who may have discovered him through “Siyabonga Gogo” to go deeper into his musical world.
“The album gives you different sides of Sancheziey. It carries songs like ‘Utawuva Ngengoma’, ‘Halala’, ‘Emakamelwi’, and many more. There’s emotion, culture, energy and different sounds that I believe people will connect with,” he said.
His journey has been built around bringing Swati identity into contemporary music, and the Metro FM play has strengthened his belief that staying authentic can open international doors.
“Authenticity is not a limitation – it can actually be your passport to the world,” Sancheziey said.
The 11am play also represents a moment that could resonate beyond Sancheziey himself. For listeners in Eswatini, hearing a locally rooted song on a major South African platform offers another reminder that Swati stories can travel without losing the identity that gave them meaning.
Sancheziey says his ambitions now stretch beyond Eswatini and South Africa.
“I don’t only want Sancheziey to be known in Eswatini or South Africa. I want people across Africa and eventually across the world to hear our stories, hear our sounds and understand where I come from,” he said.
“The goal is not to leave Eswatini behind. The goal is to take Eswatini with me.”
And so, at 11am yesterday, “Siyabonga Gogo” did more than play on the radio.
For a few minutes, a story rooted in Swati gratitude occupied a bigger African airwave – carrying with it the voice, culture and identity of home.
But Sancheziey insists this is only one chapter.
To those who discovered him through “Siyabonga Gogo”, his message is simple: go beyond the song and experience the album.
“Don’t stop at one song – come into my world. Go stream uMntfwana weLive, listen to the stories, feel the music, and tell me which song speaks to you the most.”
Siyabonga Gogo may have opened the door. Sancheziey is now inviting Africa to walk into his world.
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(Courtesy Pic)
