BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE– Eswatini’s presence on the regional electronic dance music scene continues to grow after house music duo Tribal Natives were officially confirmed as the second local act set to perform at the prestigious Kings of House 2026 festival in Mozambique.
The highly anticipated festival, organised by Gloom Events, is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at Complexo Coconuts in Maputo. The event is expected to attract thousands of dance music enthusiasts and will showcase Afro House, Tech, Bass and Groove music across three stages.
Tribal Natives join award-winning house music DJ Cup, who was previously announced as part of the international lineup, making them the second act from the Kingdom to represent Eswatini at one of Southern Africa’s biggest electronic music festivals.
The duo consists of Simphiwe Karen Ashley Dlamini, popularly known as DJ Ash, and Nelson Xolani Mbingo, professionally known as NelsonX. They officially launched the Tribal Natives brand during last year’s MTN Bushfire Festival and have since built a growing reputation within the regional dance music industry.
Speaking ahead of their performance, the duo said they were honoured to be selected for the event and excited to represent Eswatini on such a respected international platform.
“We’re truly thrilled to be performing at Kings of House and honoured to be selected among this year’s Kings of House DJs. It’s an incredible opportunity to represent Eswatini and share our sound with a wider African audience,” they said.
Since their launch, Tribal Natives have performed at several major events, including the MoMo Experience, weAfro, Farmers Market, Sound System and Futopia Festival in Zanzibar. They have also established their own flagship event, further strengthening their footprint in the house music scene.
The duo said the name Tribal Natives reflects a cultural movement that celebrates African identity, heritage and sound through music.
Meanwhile, fellow Eswatini representative DJ Cup, born Welcome Zama Maseko, welcomed the opportunity to share the international stage with Tribal Natives.
“It’s an honour to represent Eswatini at Kings of House 2026. Sharing the lineup with incredible international artists and fellow Swati talents like Tribal Natives shows that our music is reaching new heights. We are ready to showcase the quality of house music coming out of the Kingdom,” he said.
Kings of House 2026 will feature more than 30 local and international artists from Brazil, Spain, South Africa, Mozambique and Eswatini. Headlining the festival are Brazilian stars Fatsync and Viot, Spain’s DJ Lexlay, and South African acts Hypa Phonic and Pando G.
The inclusion of both Tribal Natives and DJ Cup highlights Eswatini’s growing influence in the regional electronic music industry and provides another opportunity for local talent to showcase their artistry on an international stage.
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(Courtesy Pic)
