Ezulwini- Eswatini-born musician Young Zesh is set to team up with South African singer Aubrey Qwana for a deeply emotional new single, ‘Ubaba’, a heartfelt tribute to fathers and loved ones who have passed away.
Scheduled for release on October 2, 2026, Ubaba, meaning “Father”, draws from the pain of losing a parent and the emptiness that follows their absence.
For Young Zesh, the song is more than a musical collaboration. It is deeply personal, inspired by his own experience of losing his father before he could fulfil everything he had hoped to do for him.
‘Ubaba’, meaning ‘Father,’ is a very personal and emotional song for me and Aubrey Qwana,” Young Zesh said.
The song reflects on a familiar experience: growing up hearing phrases such as, “You look just like your father” or “You are just like your father,” while knowing that the person being compared to is no longer around to witness the person their child has become.
Young Zesh said this reality became one of the central inspirations behind the record.
“Sometimes that father is no longer alive to witness who we have become,” he said.
Beyond his own grief, Ubaba also explores the loneliness experienced by families after the loss of a father, including mothers who lose their partners. However, the musician emphasises that the song is not only about his story. It is for anyone who has lost a father, parent or someone who played a fatherly role in their life.
At its heart, Ubaba carries a message of appreciation, encouraging people to express love and gratitude towards their parents and loved ones while they are still alive.
“Sometimes we wait until someone is gone before we realise how much they meant to us,” Young Zesh said. “The song reminds us that life is short and that we should love, respect and support our parents while we still have the opportunity.”
The song further explores grief and the lasting connection people maintain with those who have passed away through memories, lessons and sacrifices.
For Young Zesh, death does not erase the relationship between a child and a parent.
“‘Ubaba’ is our way of saying: we remember you, we miss you, and everything you taught us continues to live through us,” he said.
A collaboration built on emotion
Recording Ubaba was an emotional experience for Young Zesh, who wanted the record to remain authentic rather than feel manufactured.
“Because the subject is so personal, I wanted the music to feel honest rather than forced,” he said.
The song was recorded at ShowThemFlames in Sandton, South Africa, with production handled by Nkululeko Sithole and Stanley Khoza of ShowThemFlames. Sean Cast HQ handled the mixing and mastering.
Sonically, Ubaba blends Afro-pop, contemporary African sounds and soulful elements, with the production designed to create enough space for the vocals and storytelling to take centre stage.
Young Zesh said every element of the record was created to evoke emotion while remaining accessible to a wide audience.
His decision to bring Aubrey Qwana onto the song was also intentional. He praised the South African artist for the honesty and emotional depth he brings to his music.
“We were not simply trying to make a song together; we were trying to tell a story that people could connect with,” Young Zesh said.
According to the Eswatini musician, Qwana brought his own perspective and emotion to the record, with their different musical backgrounds ultimately complementing one another.
As October 2 approaches, Young Zesh is inviting listeners to experience Ubaba not simply as another release, but as a moment of reflection.
He has encouraged fans to stream the song, add it to their playlists and share it with anyone who has experienced the loss of a parent or loved one.
For the musician, Ubaba carries a message that extends beyond music: love people while they are still here, appreciate them while you can, and keep their memories alive when they are gone.
“This is bigger than just a release for me. It is a tribute to our fathers, our parents and the memories they leave behind,” he said.
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