MBABANE – Local artist, Cy Ndukwemnyama is set to embark on a career milestone this July as he will represent the country at the Global Creative Summit.
Real name, Sanele Mamba, is a liSwati recording artist, songwriter and storyteller from Sigwe, Ngudzeni in Eswatini. He is passionate about preserving and celebrating Swati culture through music. The local artist received this opportunity after his performance at the Eswatini Arts Summit in March this year. “One of my most memorable performances has to be the one that landed me this gig. I was chosen as the first and only liSwati artist to tour with the Global Creative Summit to represent Eswatini creatives in seven countries. The tour will start in July in Mozambique, then in no particular order, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Lesotho and then USA next year. I can’t find words to express this milestone, it’s truly bigger than me,” he said. Mamba’s foundation is unapologetically rural. The community values of Sigwe provided a rich, immersive education that no lecture hall could ever replicate. Growing up in the rural areas of Sigwe exposed him to strong family values, traditional ceremonies, storytelling and community life. Some of his fondest childhood memories are spending time with elders, listening to cultural stories, attending traditional gatherings and learning the values that continue to shape both his character and music.
Mamba’s creative process mirrors this deep emotional dive. His songwriting begins not with a commercial hook but with an intangible spiritual spark. “Since my music is deeply rooted in storytelling and culture, I always start with an idea, a lesson, or an experience I want to share. From there, the melody develops naturally and I hum it or sing in a language that I’ve never heard even myself,” he mentioned, once the melody is there, then real words in vernac fall into place. Mamba’s impact is already rippling through his peers, shaping how they dress, speak and produce sound. “Everything they can. I’ve had a few telling me how much my dress code commands respect and that they’ve tried it and loved how people address them in the streets.’’
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