BY NOSIPHO MABUZA
MBABANE- DJ Cnatra’s musical journey blends passion, growth, and purpose.
Simanga Bonginkhosi Thwala, popularly known as DJ Cnatra, is proving that passion, persistence, and purpose can turn dreams into sound. Born and raised in Eswatini, Cnatra has been in the music scene for eight years, a journey that began as a hobby and evolved into a growing brand fueled by grit and undeniable talent.
“Nothing has been easy, but the grind got better soon as I switched my focus to DJing,” he shared. “The brand is growing quite good.”
For Cnatra, soulful music reigns supreme. Deep house has become his signature sound, a genre he says speaks directly to his spirit. “Soulful is king to me,” he said. “That’s what made me choose Deep House over Amapiano. It only took one piece of advice from an unexpected big brother to help me find my sound.”
His turning point came during a gig at The Exchange Lounge and Shisanyama last year. What started as a private school Amapiano set quickly shifted into an unforgettable deep house session. “The stage manager said deep house is not around, we need one,” he recalls. “I was just playing my part as a resident DJ, not knowing that moment was the beginning of Cnatra.bst.”
Since then, his name has echoed through popular venues like The Exchange, Ocean Cuisine, and Brussels Lounge, where he has built a loyal following of deep house lovers.
Now, Cnatra is gearing up for his biggest release yet, a collaboration with The Bishops and Virtousouls titled “Ubongo Maffin,” set to drop on 31 October 2025 across major streaming platforms. Interestingly, the track began as an Amapiano piece before transforming into a soulful deep house gem.
“It was after a long night session,” he explained. “We needed something refreshing for happy, crazy vibes. Virtousouls worked on the mixing, came up with a deep house version, and then The Bishops joined in. For me, that confirmed that deep house is the right genre for Cnatra.”
The team is currently working on visuals for the single, promising a vibrant rollout as part of their promotional calendar. Cnatra also teased more collaborations and upcoming projects on the horizon.
One of his most memorable moments was sharing the stage with The Bishops during the 4th edition of Music War, an experience he says marked a milestone in his growth as an artist.
“If you gotta do it, do it all from the gut, that’s what love is,” he said with a smile. “We have an anthem for December. #UbongoMaffin.”
(Courtesy Pic)
