Prince Bandzile has taken another step in his efforts to promote local music with the release of a new hip hop single, Shwele, through his music stable, Sound Kitchen.
The Prince serves as executive producer on the single, which features local artists LK Baba, Charlie SD and Mshiza Mnguni.
The track combines contemporary hip hop with traditional Swazi instruments, bringing together modern production and sounds rooted in Eswatini’s cultural heritage.
Shwele tells the story of artists who discovered their natural gift for music at a young age and have continued to develop their craft over the years.
Through its lyrics and delivery, the song reflects their journey as musicians while celebrating their connection to Eswatini’sculture and the Monarchy.
For Prince Bandzile, the project forms part of a wider commitment to creating opportunities for local musicians while keeping indigenous sounds present in contemporary music.
Speaking about his work in the local music industry, the Prince highlighted the importance of promoting Eswatini’s musical identity and creating space for traditional instruments within modern music.
This vision has been taking shape through Sound Kitchen, the music stable he established to support and develop local talent.
Sound Kitchen focuses on bringing traditional Swati sounds together with modern music production.
Through the stable, Prince Bandzile has become involved in producing and executive producing local music projects, while also creating opportunities for collaborations between artists and cultural groups.
One of the stable’s earlier projects was Giya, a song accompanied by a visualiser that showcases elements of Eswatini’s musical heritage.
The project is available on YouTube and forms part of the stable’s efforts to introduce traditional influences to wider audiences through contemporary music.
The Prince has also overseen live collaborative performances involving local artists and cultural groups, further supporting his aim of bringing different parts of the local creative industry together.
With Shwele, that approach continues through a hip hop production that does not separate modern music from traditional influences. Instead, the song uses both to tell a story about the artists, their talent and the culture that informs their work.
The release also reflects the growing involvement of Prince Bandzile in the development of local music beyond performance.
Through Sound Kitchen, his focus has included supporting artists, overseeing productions and encouraging the use of indigenous instruments and sounds.
His work comes at a time when local musicians continue to explore ways of incorporating Eswatini’s cultural identity into contemporary genres.
For Sound Kitchen, this means creating music that can appeal to present-day audiences while retaining elements that are distinctly Swati.
Eswatini TV has also pledged its support for the Prince’s initiatives, in line with its mandate to promote local artists and the local creative industry.
The support is expected to contribute to the wider visibility of projects coming from Sound Kitchen and the artists involved in its productions.
For Prince Bandzile, the release of Shwele is another part of a longer-term effort to nurture local talent and ensure that indigenous musical elements remain part of Eswatini’s evolving music scene.
While Sound Kitchen continues to develop its projects, the Prince’s work is centred on giving local artists a platform while connecting the sounds of the past with the music being created today.
