MBABANE— Eswatini’s cultural heritage is taking on a contemporary sound as talented musician Young Zesh joins forces with Her Royal Highness Princess Buhlebetive for a new Hip Hop single, ‘Giya’, set for release on August 21, 2026.
Produced by DJ Navie and released under Mabonwa Abulawe Records, the song blends modern Hip Hop with traditional Swati musical elements while celebrating the annual Umhlanga (Reed Dance) Ceremony.
Young Zesh describes ‘Giya’ as more than a music release, positioning it as a cultural anthem aimed at young people, particularly young women, and encouraging them to participate in Umhlanga while taking pride in their heritage.
“Giya is a powerful cultural Hip Hop anthem that celebrates the beauty, pride, and heritage of Eswatini’s Umhlanga (Reed Dance) Ceremony,” he said.
According to the artist, the song seeks to create a bridge between contemporary youth culture and one of the Kingdom’s most treasured traditions.
The Umhlanga Ceremony, which annually brings together thousands of unmarried young women, serves as the central inspiration behind the record. Young Zesh uses energetic and motivational verses to encourage young women to embrace their cultural identity, participate in the ceremony and uphold values passed down through generations.
Adding a distinctive royal presence to the song, Princess Buhlebetive contributes a verse praising His Majesty King Mswati III while highlighting the importance of Umhlanga in preserving Swati customs and strengthening national unity.
For Young Zesh, having the princess on the record significantly deepened the song’s cultural meaning.
“The inspiration came from wanting to create something that speaks directly to our young people, especially young women, while celebrating the beauty, culture and importance of Umhlanga Festival,” he said.
The musician said he wanted to avoid creating a song that sounded disconnected from the culture it celebrates. Instead, he aimed to combine his Hip Hop identity with traditional Swati sounds to produce something that feels fresh while retaining its cultural roots.
“I wanted to combine the sound that I represent as a Hip Hop artist with our traditional Swati elements and create something that feels modern but still carries the spirit of our culture,” he said.
He added that Princess Buhlebetive’s involvement made the collaboration even more meaningful.
“Having Princess Buhlebetive on the song made it even more meaningful because she brings a genuine connection to the culture and to the royal family,” Young Zesh said.
At the heart of ‘Giya’ is a message of cultural pride and participation.
“The main message behind ‘Giya’ is to encourage our young women to participate in and embrace Umhlanga. It is about being proud of who we are, where we come from and the culture that has been passed down to us,” he said.
The collaboration also gave Young Zesh an opportunity to work alongside DJ Navie, whose production helped bring the fusion of Hip Hop and traditional sounds together.
“The creative process was really beautiful. It was an honour and a great experience creating this song alongside Princess Buhlebetive and DJ Navie, who produced the record,” he said.
Young Zesh described working with the princess as both an honour and a memorable personal experience, admitting that he initially felt nervous about the opportunity.
“Honestly, working with the princess was an amazing experience, but I was also a little scared at first!” he said.
For the artist, however, the nerves were outweighed by the significance of creating a song that represents Eswatini’s culture.
“It was an honour for me as an artist to work with her on a song that represents our culture, and I really appreciate the opportunity,” he added.
With its August 21 release date approaching, ‘Giya’ arrives at a time when attention turns towards Umhlanga, positioning the song as both a soundtrack to the cultural season and an attempt to introduce traditional themes to a younger, modern audience.
Young Zesh believes the record has the potential to go beyond entertainment by becoming a musical celebration of Swati identity.
“Produced by DJ Navie and released under Mabonwa Abulawe Records, Giya is more than just a song, it’s a celebration of Swati identity, an invitation for young women to take pride in their heritage, and a musical tribute to one of Africa’s most iconic cultural ceremonies,” he said”.
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