BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE— Music has a way of crossing borders and breaking language barriers, and Eswatini artist Sancheziey’s “Siyabonga Gogo” is proving just that after the song was recognised during an episode of the MusicPulse Podcast, formerly known as Piano Pulse, where Thakgi Ledwaba shared his experience of hearing the song repeatedly at a wedding.
Ledwaba shared an experience from a wedding he attended where emaSwati and Pedi communities came together, recalling how “Siyabonga Gogo” was repeatedly played throughout the celebration. The song immediately stood out to him, despite him not understanding the Swati lyrics.
“Then there’s this nice Siswati song they kept on playing. It’s called ‘Siyabonga Gogo’… It’s dope, like it’s just… I can’t, I don’t really understand what they’re saying, of course, but it just sounds dope,” Ledwaba said.
He went on to praise the cultural appeal of the song, explaining that his interest in African music has grown through discovering different languages and sounds across the region.
“I like culture music… I started with Zulu, now I’m there by Siswati. I already know Pedi, so I’ll go Venda next… and then maybe I’ll go Xhosa,” he said.
For Sancheziey, hearing his work discussed on such a platform was more than a career highlight. It was a deeply personal moment.
The artist revealed that in 2023, while battling a difficult period in his life, he spent time watching content from MacG’s channel as a way of getting through the days and escaping reality. He never imagined that years later, his own music would become part of a discussion on the same platform.
“I never thought one day my work would be part of a discussion in such a platform. I am really touched and humbled,” Sancheziey said.
He expressed gratitude to the families who continued playing the song at their gatherings and to Ledwaba for recognising it and bringing it into a wider conversation.
The recognition has also strengthened Sancheziey’s ambition to take the Salukazana family and Swati music into the South African market.
He believes the growing attention is a sign that Swati music can travel beyond borders, while carrying with it the identity, traditions and stories of Eswatini.
“As we go out of the country, this won’t be about us but about the country and its tradition,” he said.
The moment also carries a wider cultural significance. Ledwaba’s reaction demonstrates how music can create connections even when listeners do not understand every word. Rhythm, melody, performance and cultural identity can become a universal language, introducing audiences to sounds outside their familiar musical spaces.
For Sancheziey, the message is simple: “It’s possible. Keep dreaming.”
With “Siyabonga Gogo” reaching ears beyond Eswatini, the song is proving that language may define where music comes from, but it does not have to define how far it can travel.
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(Courtesy Pics)
