When Signing Autographs On Breasts Failed To Quench Our Thirst

Sometime in the year 2008, we sat down as Stealth Independence, and started talking to ourselves, about ourselves and our music. We said;

“Alright, whenever we get into the studio, we come out with great music every time. Every time we climb onto the stage, the crowd screams so loud, they love our music. Even when they hear our song for the first time ever, they love it and want more. Wherever we walk, people want to talk to us and they say we are the most brilliant storm to have ever hit Swaziland. We have even performed for old grannies and they loved our music (to our great surprise). Other artists are inspired by us. Many artists have even started to sing and rap in SiSwati, mainly because we confidently led the way when many claimed that it was impossible to rap in SiSwati, or when naysayers claimed that SiSwati music would never be accepted or enjoyed by people inside and outside Swaziland. Even Lindelwa Mafa chose our song Dlala Swaziland to use it on the Swazi Rhythm show every week. When we meet people in town, they stop us for signing of autographs. Damn, we have even signed autographs on some women’s breasts! But, where to from here? With all this glory, what do we have to show for it?”

That was a very important discussion. The kind of dreams we had were massive! Yes, we are still living the dream. We are still paving the way the best way we can, wherever we can. But I narrate this short story, not because I want to tell a story about Stealth Independence’s “past” glory, but because I want to speak about Swaziland music and its future, especially the music that is still struggling for recognition in Swaziland (and outside).

At the time when Stealth Independence were rocking the stage, together with the likes of Cocktail, Mozaik, KRTC, Anakhonza, Movement, Milewsky, UGLY (Sainte) G, and many others, there was no Data File Host for people to download music and thereby get more people to listen to one’s music. I have seen many Swaziland artists post their music on this site, with some getting as many as three thousand FREE downloads. Massive achievement! After viewing such achievement, I then ask myself; then what after this? Many artists have been posting their music on Data File Host for the past three years. They are still posting it there and still getting no shows inside or outside Swaziland. Some do have their music played on Swaziland radio, but then, let’s just face it, no one gets money from airplay on Swaziland radio. They don’t give no royalties there! Nonetheless, it is a big step up and we must praise the radio DJs who play our music there.

We know that Swaziland artists produce music because they want to achieve great things with it. However, we must realise that signing autographs on women’s breasts will simply not get us anywhere, unless we deliberately and consciously use that on-breasts autographs as a stepping stone to greater heights. You have been posting your music on the internet for the past three years for FREE downloads. What is it that you can say those downloads have brought back to you as a stepping stone to greater heights? That is the question that I leave with my colleagues. It is time this question is answered! In 2008 I answered this question by calling out, publicly and frequently, for UNITY amongst Swaziland artists. Seven years later, I still strongly believe that unity is still a necessary catalyst for Swaziland music to grow and for Swaziland artists to finally attain justice for the many hours they invest in their studios!