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MBABANE – Award-winning Eswatini artist Young Zesh has reached a notable milestone on Spotify, crossing 16 000 monthly listeners.
Monthly listeners represent unique individuals who play an artist’s music over a rolling 28-day period, capturing both new listeners and returning fans.
According to Young Zesh, reaching 16 000 monthly listeners reflects a steady broadening of his digital footprint under his independent recording label, Mabonwa Abulawe Records.
“Reaching over 16 000 monthly listeners suggests that my music is connecting with people and that I have an audience I can continue to grow. In an industry where artists compete for attention, building a consistent audience on a global streaming platform is an important step.
The next goal is to grow beyond 16 000, retain existing listeners and attract new ones with every release. The real achievement is not just reaching 16.1 thousand monthly listeners; it is building an audience that continues to grow with my music and my journey,” he said. Born Mzwandile Comfort Ginindza, Young Zesh has established himself as one of the prominent figures in Eswatini’s contemporary music scene. Known for blending Hip Hop, Afro-Pop and Soul with traditional siSwati elements, his sound continues to resonate locally and across regional borders.
Following his departure from Upscale Live, Young Zesh launched Mabonwa Abulawe Records to secure creative independence and build an infrastructure for Eswatini artists. His hit single ‘Senibeketele’ surpassed 100 000 views on YouTube. Beyond local stages, Young Zesh has forged cross-border collaborations, including ‘Ubaba’ alongside South African Aubrey Qwana. His work in fusing contemporary beats with culture earned him recognition at the Eswatini National Arts & Culture Awards. The steady growth on global streaming platforms provides Mabonwa Abulawe Records with a solid foundation to pitch international bookings, brand partnerships and broader deals as Eswatini music continues to gain ground digitally.