By Siphesihle Dlamini
If ever there was a moment when time stopped, music ruled, and strangers became one under the rhythm of the night, Friends of Kelvin Momo was that moment.
Held at SibaneSami Hotel on Saturday, the event turned an ordinary weekend into an extraordinary musical experience, one etched in memory, heartbeats, and dance steps.
For hours on end, the decks burned, the bass vibrated through souls, and the stars above bowed to the energy below.
This wasn’t just an event, it was a celebration of rhythm, unity, and creativity, a coming together of musical tribes under one groove-fuelled roof.
From the first spin to the final beat, the night proved why Friends of Kelvin Momo was a must-attend show. The festivities began under the golden afternoon sun, and on cue, DJ Ash stepped onto the decks, igniting the first spark.
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Cool, composed, and calculated, Ash delivered a seamless blend of deep house and afro-electronic sounds, setting the tone for what would become a marathon of sonic pleasure.
Her transitions were smooth, her drops perfectly timed, reminding everyone why she’s steadily carving her name among the country’s elite.
Next up, K. Darrow brought a touch of lyrical finesse with a brief but potent 15-minute set that served as a warm-up for what lay ahead. With calm confidence and a tastefully curated selection, K. Darrow let the music speak, his tracks attracting anticipation in the growing crowd.
Then came Lyrikal Busta, and the night found its pulse. Backed by a loyal fan base and riding the wave of his latest project Mbabane to Jozi, the emcee tore through a Swati-infused set that left no doubt about his evolution as an artist.
From introspective tracks like ‘Bantfwabam’ to crowd-pumping anthems ‘Bavumile’, he balanced nostalgia and novelty, drawing from both his past and present catalogues. Fans rapped along, fists pumping, hearts racing, it was Lyrikal at his finest.
As dusk turned into evening, DJ Expo took over the decks at around 7 pm. She wasn’t there to play; she was there to elevate.
With her precise mixing and strong command of rhythm, she shifted the energy up a notch, warming the stage for the lyrical explosion that followed.
Qibho Intalektual, a name that resonates with every true hip-hop head in the country, stormed onto the stage with poetry disguised as bars.
His flow danced between satire, storytelling, and social commentary, all wrapped in sharp rhyme schemes and clever wordplay.
Then came a special moment, when he invited Lution, the lyrical lion, to join him. The two titans delivered a collaborative set that was part rap battle, part brotherhood, a moment of unity and respect that had the crowd roaring.
And just when you thought the bar couldn’t be raised higher, Sbu De Drum DJ emerged like a storm. Fusing House and Amapiano, he spun a set that was both grounded in groove and experimental in flair. The dance floor responded like a living organism — swaying, pulsing, alive.
The spotlight didn’t just belong to headliners, it shone brightly on Amarii and Gryxxly, who delivered a joint hip-hop set that proved Eswatini’s new generation of artists are ready to dominate.
Their chemistry was natural, their flows complementary, and their performance electric. Their bars weren’t just clever, they were crafted with purpose, carrying the voice of a youth hungry to be heard.
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Then came the legend: Speech Umlangeni. The man, the myth, the musical oracle. As the clock struck 8 pm, he took the decks and delivered a masterclass in the groove.
With a house-heavy set peppered with iconic tracks from his extensive catalogue, Speech Umlangeni had the entire venue moving as one.
No pyrotechnics, no gimmicks, just pure skill and deep knowledge of what makes a crowd dance.
From this point forward, it was like an unstoppable wave of musical excellence. DJ 1D stormed onto the scene with a hip-hop set that defied genre boundaries.
In a night dominated by house and Amapiano, he carved out a bold lane of his own, shaking the venue with Siyinqaba’s “Gwayimane.”
The crowd went wild. It wasn’t just nostalgia; it was homegrown hip-hop pride turned into soundwaves.
Then President seamlessly transitioned the mood, threading hip-hop with afro-house and maintaining the dancefloor’s fire.
His ability to genre-hop with fluidity made his set one of the most versatile of the night. The tempo, the energy, the timing, everything clicked.
And just when you thought the night had peaked, Felix entered the chat. This wordsmith blended Amapiano and Afrobeats like a mad musical scientist, creating potions of pure dance energy.
His set lit a fuse that would carry the night into its final, most unforgettable chapters. Then came DJ So What and everything changed. This wasn’t just a performance. This was theatre.
This was an emotional rollercoaster disguised as a DJ set. Every transition was a heartbeat, every drop a memory created in real time.
The lights synchronized with the sound, and the crowd melted into the moment. He didn’t just play music; he summoned it. The hands in the air, the gasps after each drop, this was what people came for.
But it wasn’t over. Entered Da Muziqal Chef, South Africa’s house music gem, and the maestro before the main event. His soulful house beats through the crowd like threads of electricity. His set was deep, emotive, and impeccably paced, building the anticipation for the headliner.
Then, finally, the Amapiano’s best stepped up. Kelvin Momo, the architect of “Private School Amapiano,” entered the decks with quiet confidence. No hype is needed.
The music did the talking. For the next hour-plus, the crowd was suspended in sound. Momo’s set was elegant and complex, filled with delicate piano riffs, layered basslines, and emotionally resonant builds.
It wasn’t just a party; it was an immersive journey. People didn’t just dance, they felt.
He played with time and tempo, pulling the crowd in and letting them go just before the drop. Eyes closed, hands up, the venue transformed into a cathedral of groove.
When his set ended, there was a pause. A moment of silence. And then, thunderous applause. Kelvin Momo had delivered, and then some.
After Momo’s magical performance, many assumed it was over. But Itsallblaq, the local queen of decks, had other plans. Jumping on after 4:30 am, she kept the fire alive with a high-energy set that refused to let the morning kill the vibe.
Her presence, her timing, her selections, all perfect. As the sun threatened to rise, her beats dared it to wait.
People danced until they couldn’t feel their feet.
Not because they were forced, but because the music wouldn’t let them stop. Friends of Kelvin Momo didn’t just deliver, it ignited.
It showcased not only world-class talent but also the explosive creativity of Eswatini’s own. For those who were there, it was more than music. It was a memory. A spark. A piece of history written in rhythm.
