The Eswatini-born Grammy-winning singer becomes the first Liswati to share the stage with the internationally acclaimed performer.
Eswatini-born singer Manana has added another significant performance to his career after sharing the stage with Cynthia Erivo at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, during the acclaimed performer’s headline concert on October 15, 2026.
Manana joined Erivo during her show, Let Me Sing to You, for a performance of ‘Remember Me’ a song from his own catalogue.
The appearance placed the award-winning Eswatini artist alongside one of the entertainment industry’s most recognised performers at one of Los Angeles’ best-known live music venues.
The collaboration was among the highlights of Erivo’s concert, which brought together music from across different genres and generations.
The evening featured songs associated with artists including Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, Phil Collins and Prince, alongside Erivo’s own material.
Manana’s appearance added his music to the programme, giving the audience an opportunity to hear his work in the context of the singer and actress’s headline performance.
Following the concert, Manana reflected on the experience in a social media post, describing the evening as one of the most memorable of his life.
He also spoke about Erivo’s influence on his career and the significance of performing alongside someone whose work he has admired for years.
“This will always be one of the most memorable evenings of my, Cynthia has been an inspiration to me for years and if you ever have the opportunity to see her live, you too will be inspired,” he wrote.
Manana added that witnessing Erivo’s performance was a privilege and that sharing the stage with her was difficult to put into words.
He also thanked her for the opportunity, writing, “Ngiyabonga.”
His post offered a personal account of a performance that carried significance beyond the concert itself.
For an artist whose roots are in Eswatini, appearing at the Hollywood Bowl alongside an internationally established performer represents another moment in his continuing musical journey.
Erivo also reflected on the concert in her own social media post. She described returning to headline the Hollywood Bowl for a second time as an extraordinary experience, particularly after uncertainty about whether she would be able to perform.
She wrote that the evening felt like a gift to her and expressed gratitude to the people who contributed to the production and to the artists who joined her on stage.
The concert took place just days after reports that Erivo had experienced vocal difficulties ahead of the performance.
Despite the setback, she delivered a show that included a wide-ranging setlist and featured Manana as one of its guest performers.
Erivo is known internationally for her work across music, theatre and film. She has received major recognition for her performances on Broadway and in film, including her portrayal of Elphaba in the film adaptation of Wicked. Her career has also earned her Grammy, Emmy and Tony Awards, alongside Academy Award nominations.
For Manana, the appearance adds to a career that has increasingly connected his music with audiences beyond Eswatini.
His work draws on contemporary soul and alternative R&B, with songwriting that has attracted listeners through its personal themes and distinctive sound.
The performance also highlights the role of international collaborations in creating opportunities for artists to introduce their music to new audiences.
Sharing a stage with an established performer can bring an artist into a different musical environment while allowing their own work to reach people who may not have encountered it previously.
Although the full impact of the appearance on Manana’s international audience remains to be seen, the performance has already become a defining personal milestone, judging by his own account of the evening.
His public tribute to Erivo made clear that the opportunity meant as much to him as the performance itself.
For Eswatini, the moment offers another connection between a homegrown artist and a major international stage.
Manana’s appearance at the Hollywood Bowl places his name within the story of Erivo’s headline concert and provides a milestone for an artist continuing to build his presence beyond the Kingdom.
The performance was not simply an appearance alongside a celebrated name. It was an opportunity for Manana to share his music in front of the audience attending Erivo’s concert, and one he has described as an experience he will remember for the rest of his life.
