BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE- Representing!
This is local award-winning rapper Street Cooper, real name Sanele Streetwise Sihlogonyane, who was one of the acts at the inaugural Ubungoma Festival at Johannesburg in South Africa.
Ubungoma Festival was hosted by Gogo Maweni, a South African sangoma who rose to fame by confessing of allegedly ‘dealing’ with the father of her children in her indumba (consultation room).
When asked how he got the gig, the rapper said he got through Gogo Maweni, who is the founder of the G Maweni Productions.
“I first heard about the festival on a Podcast&Chill where Gogo Maweni was explaining everything about the festival, what the festival was all about and artists that she was going to invite. By that time they were still organising the festival.
“I heard that on the line-up would be afro-pop and maskandi artists like Sjava, Mnqobi, Blaq Diamond and others. This music that I have just listed fuses with mine as I mainly do rap on afro-op genre. I took my chance, approached her and sent her a proposal. I guess she fell in love with my music and the rest was history,” narrated the artist.
The 22-year-old rapper said Eswatini music was really powerful and this was evident when one performed in another country. He said this when asked about his experience at Ubungoma Festival.
“The crowd was really amazing. During my performance, I gave them notes to my songs and they were actually singing along. I really felt special,” he said.
He also applauded Gogo Maweni and the organisers for being hospitable.
