BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE— What started as a cultural sound has quickly become a digital soundtrack, with Young Zesh and Princess Buhlebetive’s “Giya” finding its way into videos, dance clips and playlists across social media platforms.
Released on August 21, 2026, “Giya” has continued to gather momentum, with the Young Zesh and Princess Buhlebetive collaboration blending contemporary Hip Hop with traditional Swati sounds. The song was produced by DJ Navie and released under Mabonwa Abulawe Records.
The track was created around the Umhlanga Reed Dance, encouraging young women to embrace their heritage and participate in the cultural ceremony. Its fusion of modern music and Swati tradition has helped it connect with both cultural audiences and younger social media users.
As the song continues to be used across social media, Young Zesh has taken to his platform to thank listeners for helping push the record further.
“My people thank you so much for the love & support, we really appreciate that 💚,” he wrote, urging supporters to “stream, download, share and add it to your favourite playlists”.
The artist also shared a milestone graphic showing 10 000 YouTube views, 4 500 Spotify streams and 1 800 Apple Music streams, signalling growing interest in the collaboration.
“Giya” has particularly benefited from social media exposure, where its sound has been used in dance and creative content, giving the song a life beyond traditional music platforms. Its presence during the Umhlanga season has further strengthened its identity as a cultural entertainment record.
The collaboration has also gained attention because of Princess Buhlebetive’s involvement, making the record more than a conventional artist feature. Young Zesh previously described working with the Princess as an honour and said her connection to the Royal Family gave the song greater cultural meaning.
The momentum surrounding “Giya” comes at a time when the duo’s musical partnership continues to grow. Princess Buhlebetive recently unveiled another song featuring Young Zesh during her kugiya at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence Arena, marking their second musical collaboration.
With listeners continuing to stream, share and create content around the song, “Giya” is proving that when culture meets a catchy digital sound, the dance floor can quickly become the timeline.
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(Courtesy Pic)
