BY SIPHOSETHU MABUZA
MANZINI – Cy Ndukwemnyama from the hills of Sigwe to a stage in Lesotho, carrying more than music across the border. Preparing to cross the border with a microphone, a story and a sound rooted in home.
Eswatini artist Cy Ndukwemnyama set to perform at the Global Creative Summit Lesotho 2026, where he will share the stage with artists from across the region. The summit, taking place in Lesotho alongside the first annual Tourism Pitso, brings together creatives, institutions, brands and other players in the creative economy.
For Cy, however, the appearance is about more than adding another performance to his calendar. His inclusion gives Eswatini’s music a place in a regional conversation about the role of creativity in connecting African countries and opening opportunities for artists.
The Global Creative Summit is built around themes including cultural exchange, creative entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, innovation and access to markets. Cy’s performance therefore places his music within a broader platform where culture and business meet.
What makes his appearance particularly interesting is the identity he brings with him. Cy Ndukwemnyama has continued to draw from his Swati roots in his artistic expression, creating music that allows traditional identity and contemporary sound to exist side by side. Now, that sound is travelling to Lesotho.
The Lesotho edition of the summit features a line-up that includes Judah Soul, Pepsin, Ntunja and Cy Ndukwemnyama, giving the Eswatini artist an opportunity to introduce his sound to an audience outside his home country.
For a creative industry that often struggles with artists crossing borders and accessing wider markets, appearances such as this can provide valuable exposure and connections.
Cy’s journey to Lesotho also reflects a simple reality: African creativity does not have to stop at national borders. For the Eswatini artist, the next stage is across the border and he will be carrying a piece of home with him.
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