BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE— Ten thousand plays later, Sibu Manzini’s “Memeta” is proving that a song born from a soulful connection can find its way into the ears of listeners far beyond its home ground.
The Eswatini Afro House producer and DJ has reached the 10 000-play milestone on Apple Music with “Memeta”, a collaboration featuring celebrated Swazi Soul artist Bholoja and keyboardist Thando Magic. The milestone marks another step in Sibu’s ambition to take his sound from Eswatini to wider African and international audiences.
For the independent artist, the figure is more than a streaming number. It represents 10,000 moments in which listeners chose to press play, giving him renewed confidence in the ability of Eswatini-made music to travel.
“Honestly, I was grateful and excited. As an independent artist, every stream represents someone choosing to listen to your music, so reaching 10 000 plays is something I don’t take for granted. It also reminded me that the music can travel beyond where I’m based,” said Sibu.
Released as a soulful yet dancefloor-friendly production, “Memeta” was inspired by a performance Sibu had with Bholoja. During the performance, Bholoja freestyled over one of Sibu’s songs, using the lyrics “Memeta”. The spontaneous moment stood out to the artists and eventually became the foundation for the collaboration.
The song features an Original Mix and Club Mix, allowing it to appeal to listeners who enjoy its intimate, soulful character as well as those looking for a more energetic dancefloor experience.
Sibu believes the song’s ability to blend emotion with African Dance Music energy has helped it connect with listeners.
“I think ‘Memeta’ has a feeling that people can connect with. It has the African Dance Music energy, but there’s also a soulful and melodic side to it,” he said.
Sibu, formerly known as Parcel SWZ, has established himself through his work as a producer and DJ, developing a sound rooted in Afro House and electronic music while maintaining a strong soulful character.
His collaboration with Bholoja and Thando Magic further demonstrated his interest in combining electronic production with live musicianship and established Swazi artistry.
For Sibu, reaching 10 000 plays is also a reminder that artists from Eswatini do not have to limit their ambitions to the local market.
“It gives me confidence that music from Eswatini can reach people outside the country. It also motivates me to think bigger. I want to continue building my audience across Africa and internationally, while still representing where I come from,” he said.
While the milestone is worth celebrating, Sibu is treating it as motivation rather than a finish line.
“10 000 is a great milestone, but I’m aiming much higher,” he said.
With more music, collaborations and performances in the pipeline, Sibu is now focused on developing the Sibu Manzini Project, taking his music to bigger stages and introducing his sound to new audiences.
The message behind the milestone is clear: when local talent is given room to grow, its sound can travel, and 10 000 plays can be the beginning of a much bigger journey.
#SibuManzini #Memeta #Bholoja #ThandoMagic #AppleMusic #EswatiniMusic #AfroHouse #SwaziMusic #XpressedRecords #EPN #PositiveThinkingIsPower
(Courtesy Pic)
