Eswatini music star Young Zesh has joined forces with South African musician Aubrey Qwana for an emotional new single titled Ubaba, a deeply personal tribute to fathers and loved ones who have passed away.
The song, whose title means ‘Father’, is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026, and draws inspiration from the pain of losing a father and the emptiness left behind by their absence.
Young Zesh described Ubaba as a deeply personal song for both himself and Qwana, saying it explores the reality of losing someone who was once a source of love, guidance and support. 
“‘Ubaba’, meaning ‘Father,’ is a very personal and emotional song for Aubrey Qwana and me,” Young Zesh said.
He explained that the song was inspired by a common experience many people have while growing up, where they are told that they resemble their fathers or have inherited their characteristics, but sometimes the father is no longer alive to witness the person they have become.
“The inspiration came from the reality that many of us grow up hearing people say, ‘You look just like your father’ or ‘You are just like your father,’ but sometimes that father is no longer alive to witness who we have become,” he said.
For Young Zesh, the song carries an especially personal meaning as it reflects on losing his own father before he could fulfil everything he had hoped to do for him.
He said the song also explores the loneliness experienced by those left behind, particularly a mother who loses her partner.
“For me, the song touches on the pain of losing my father before I could do everything I wanted to do for him while he was still alive,” Young Zesh said.
“It also speaks about the loneliness left behind at home, especially for a mother who has lost her partner.”
However, the musician stressed that Ubaba goes beyond his personal experience, positioning it as a song for anyone who has lost a father, parent or someone who played a fatherly role in their life.
The biggest message behind the single, he said, is the importance of appreciating parents and loved ones while they are still alive.
Young Zesh noted that people sometimes only recognise the significance of those close to them after they have passed away.
Through Ubaba, he hopes to encourage listeners to express their love, respect and support for their parents while they still have the opportunity.
“The biggest message behind ‘Ubaba’ is that we should appreciate our parents and loved ones while they are still with us,” he said.
“Sometimes we wait until someone is gone before we realise how much they meant to us.
The song reminds us that life is short and that we should love, respect and support our parents while we still have the opportunity.”
The song also addresses the experience of grief and the way relationships with departed loved ones continue through memories and the lessons they leave behind.
According to Young Zesh, losing a father does not necessarily mean that the relationship comes to an end, as the memories, teachings and sacrifices of those who have passed on continue to influence the lives of those they leave behind.
“‘Ubaba’ is our way of saying: we remember you, we miss you, and everything you taught us continues to live through us,” he said.
The recording process was equally emotional for the musician, who said he wanted the song to remain honest rather than feel forced. “Making ‘Ubaba’ was a very emotional but beautiful experience.
Because the subject is so personal, I wanted the music to feel honest rather than forced,” he said.
The song was recorded at ShowThemFlames in Sandton, South Africa, with production handled by Nkululeko Sithole and Stanley Khoza from ShowThemFlames.
Sean Cast HQ was responsible for the mixing and mastering. Musically, Young Zesh said the collaboration combines Afro-pop, contemporary African sounds and soulful elements, while placing strong emphasis on emotional storytelling.
He explained that the production was deliberately designed to give the vocals enough space to carry the message while ensuring that the song remains accessible to a broad audience.
“Every part of the record was created with the intention of making people feel something,” he said. A key part of the project was the decision to collaborate with Aubrey Qwana, an artist Young Zesh said he respects for the honesty and emotion he brings to his music.
The Eswatini musician believes Aubrey Qwana was particularly suited to the song because of the emotional weight of its subject matter and their shared understanding of the story they were trying to tell.
“Working with Aubrey Qwana was an incredible experience,” he said. “He is an artist I respect because of the honesty and emotion he brings into his music.”
