Big Zulu pledges to collaborate with Young Zesh

SOUTH African award-winning artist Big Zulu promised to collaborate with local star Young Zesh, urging Emaswati to support homegrown talent.

The Nkabi Records heavyweight made the announcement during his performance at the official launch of Stush in the Bush, held at KaLanga on Saturday. His remarks drew loud applause from the audience and quickly became one of the standout moments of the event.

Big Zulu said he was impressed by Young Zesh’s performance, noting that the local artist held his own on a stage shared with established regional acts.

“I was really impressed by Young Zesh. This is the kind of talent we need to recognise and support,” he said.

The ‘Mali Eningi’ hitmaker stressed that collaboration alone was not enough if local artists were not supported in their own countries. He challenged the audience to take responsibility for uplifting their musicians.

“You cannot expect your artist to be supported outside if you don’t support them at home. If we work on a song together, it will be nice to see Young Zesh first getting full support right here,” he said.

His message resonated strongly with the crowd, many of whom cheered in agreement. Young Zesh later expressed gratitude for the endorsement, describing it as both an honour and motivation to work harder.

“To receive such recognition from someone like Big Zulu is truly humbling. I feel honoured and encouraged. This means a lot, not just to me, but to local artists who are pushing everyday,” Young Zesh said.

The moment extended beyond the event, as social media platforms lit up with reactions after a video clip circulated showing Big Zulu praising Young Zesh on stage. The clip attracted widespread attention and sparked conversations about the importance of supporting local talent.

Several local entertainers joined in the celebration. DJ Sgitha congratulated Young Zesh, applauding his consistency and growth.

“This is what happens when you focus on your craft. Your work starts speaking for you,” Sgitha said.

The launch of Stush in the Bush brought together artists, fans and industry players, but Big Zulu’s public endorsement of Young Zesh emerged as a defining highlight—one that may mark the beginning of promising cross-border collaboration grounded in mutual respect and local pride.