MBABANE – Eswatini music taken to the global stage!
Eswatini-born singer, songwriter and producer Ndumiso Manana joined Cynthia Erivo as a surprise guest at her sold-out ‘Let Me Sing to You’ concert at the Hollywood Bowl on October 15, 2026.
Performing his song ‘Remember Me’, the closing track from his August 2026 album ‘It Really Isn’t What It Is’, the 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music shared the stage with the Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning star in front of thousands of fans.
The collaboration began with a dinner in Cape Town. Impressed after listening to Manana’s album, Erivo invited him to join her on one of the world’s most iconic stages. Backed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony, Erivo performed for over two hours across two acts. She covered classics from Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, Prince, Aretha Franklin and Phil Collins, before closing with ‘I Will Always Love You’ as her encore.
The surprise appearance marked a career milestone for the rising star, who described the evening as one of the most memorable of his life. Taking to social media after the performance, Manana expressed his gratitude to Erivo: “This will always be one of the most memorable evenings of my life. @cynthiaerivo has been an inspiration to me for years and if you ever have the opportunity to see her live, you too will be inspired. Her brilliance will leave you no choice.
I could write a book describing what we witnessed on that stage. To be a part of the audience was the privilege of a lifetime. Sharing the stage? I will never be able to put it into words. Cynthia has given me a few reasons to thank her, now I get to add a performance at the Hollywood Bowl to that list. Ngiyabonga,” read the musician’s Instagram caption.
The Hollywood Bowl performance highlights Manana’s expanding international reach following a remarkable year of critical acclaim. His inclusion in Erivo’s show stands as a proud moment for African music on the global stage, proving that a chance encounter over dinner in Cape Town can quickly lead to an unforgettable night under the Hollywood stars.
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