BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE — One dance, one song and more than 53,000 views later, ZaiMarn is discovering what happens when culture finds its rhythm in the digital age.
The award-winning artist’s latest release, KADODA, has spent the past seven weeks gaining traction across Southern Africa, with its infectious sound and dance challenge drawing audiences from Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa and beyond.
But for ZaiMarn, the song’s growing popularity is not simply about numbers. It is about seeing a traditional dance from Niassa Province find a new life through contemporary music.
“I think the first sign was how quickly people connected with the dance and started creating their own videos,” said ZaiMarn. “The real confirmation was seeing the song continue to grow organically week after week.”
KADODA is a collaboration between ZaiMarn and Remes Risos, blending the traditional Kadoda dance with Afro-fusion and Amapiano influences.
For the artist, bringing the cultural sound into a modern production was about creating something rooted in Africa without restricting it to the past.
“Culture is a big part of who we are as Africans, and I believe our traditional sounds have a place in modern music,” he said.
The collaboration with Risos developed from ZaiMarn’s belief in the younger artist’s sound and energy, with the two experimenting with rhythms, melodies and vocal delivery until they found the sound they wanted.
The result has since moved beyond the studio, with fans turning the song’s dance into their own social media moments.
“What has surprised me most is the creativity of the fans,” said ZaiMarn. “People have taken the KADODA movement and made it their own, and that’s something you can’t really manufacture.”
The momentum has also expanded the audience for the independent multi-award-winning artist, whose real name is Zama Maseko.
A musician, beat maker, choreographer and entrepreneur, ZaiMarn has been building his music career since developing an interest in the industry in 2013. He performs in both siSwati and English and has won two MTN SWAMA Awards, including the 2022 Best Urban Song award for Paradise.
While KADODA has created new conversations and opportunities professionally, ZaiMarn says he is careful not to allow the song’s success to define his entire artistic identity.
“KADODA is not the end goal; it’s part of a bigger chapter for me,” he said.
The artist is currently working on a full project which he says will explore different sides of his creativity, with more music and collaborations expected.
The KADODA journey will also continue visually, with ZaiMarn revealing that the official music video has already been shot with Sky Black Production.
For Eswatini, the song carries an added connection. ZaiMarn says the country is an important part of his journey and that he would welcome the opportunity to perform KADODA locally.
“Eswatini is an important part of my journey, so performing KADODA there would be very special,” he said.
He is also open to collaborating with Swazi artists, pointing to the potential for more cross-border musical partnerships.
For now, KADODA continues to travel, carrying a traditional sound into a new generation while connecting audiences across Southern Africa.
And if ZaiMarn had to capture the song’s journey in three words, he would not choose “viral hit”.
He chooses: culture, movement and connection.
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(Courtesy Pic)
