BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – Eswatini meets Kenya!
Nhlonipho Dlamini’s latest song with Kenyan artist Savara is hitting the right chords, as it has already recorded over 10 600 streams on Spotify.
The song, titled Qoma, was released last Friday (May 17, 2024).
When speaking to this publication, Dlamini shared that he produced the song. The song is written in both SiSwati and Swahili, which is the perfect combination.
“I was introduced to Savara by my manager, Benza. Savara is from Kenya and he’s part of the famous group called Sauti Soul. It was my first time working with Savara, and he’s a great musician and has a great personality.”
When asked what inspired the song, Dlamini said, “Qoma is a love song. I would say I was inspired by this beautiful lady I was asking out at that time. People should download and stream the song for the beautiful sonic audio experience (Dolby Atmos). Qoma is a perfect love song,” he said.
It is worth mentioning that this is not his first collaboration, as he recently collaborated with South African DJ and record producer Morda, as well as DJ Zinhle, and Mthandazo Gatya, on a song titled OK Morda, which premiered on MTV last month. The song was recorded last year in August.
He also collaborated with South African singer and songwriter Azana on a song titled Popile in January this year.
Dlamini is a music producer, singer, and pianist born in Mankayane, Eswatini, where his passion for music sparked. His musical journey began at home, where he was inspired by his mother, a teacher who conducted choirs and taught him choral music at a young age.
He won his first solo competition when he joined his primary school’s choir and later received five tenor solo trophies in high school and college. Nhlonipho studied music in 2015 and now holds a Diploma in Music Performance (piano) and a Diploma in Civil Engineering.
His musical career led him to work with renowned South African and international artists such as Luyolo, Yiba, Thando Mngomezulu, Shuffle Muzik, Zintle, Kwaaiman, Nathi Mankayi, Amanda Mankayi, Samthing Soweto, Citizen Deep, Amanda Black, Nathan Blur, Siyakha Khitha, Wanda Zonke, Aneleand Neliswa, The Soweto Central Chorus, Bakhe Dlamini, and Nhlakanipho Dlamini.
He relocated to Johannesburg in 2015 where he works as a lecturer in music theory and keyboard technique at Digmac Media College in Braamfontein, which he says has taught him a lot of patience.
