Bheki & Sanele Turn Waste into Music- and Nature into Melody
By Phumelele Mkhonta · July 13, 2026
Their latest song does not just entertain, it gives nature a voice while turning discarded waste into instruments of change.
For Eswatini’s music duo Bheki & Sanele, music is more than entertainment. It is a vehicle for storytelling, cultural preservation and environmental action.
Known for blending indigenous African musical traditions with contemporary influences, the duo has carved out a unique identity by using their performances to revive oral traditions while celebrating the richness of African heritage. Their latest release, 'Kumnandzi Kubayimvelo' (It Is Beautiful to Be Nature), continues that mission by encouraging people to protect the environment through the universal language of music.
Speaking to Climate & Environment News Network, Sanele Simelane said the song was inspired by a simple but powerful truth: humanity depends on nature for survival.
“Nature can thrive without us, but we as humankind can’t survive without nature.” He explained that the duo transformed this message into a song so it could reach audiences far beyond Eswatini.
The lyrics highlight pressing environmental concerns, including water contamination, air pollution, the cutting down of indigenous trees, the destruction of wetlands and the protection of wildlife.
According to Simelane, music remains one of the most effective ways to communicate environmental messages because it reaches people naturally in their everyday lives.
“Music is easy for the ear. It’s a holistic approach to send the message across using our native language. Only a few have time to sit and read, while music keeps playing in our daily lives.”
Their environmental advocacy extends well beyond the stage. The duo creatively transforms discarded materials into musical instruments, converts waste into urban gardens and produces recycled visual art; demonstrating that waste can be given a second life through creativity.
“We turn waste into music instruments, we turn waste into urban gardens and visual art.”
Having started their musical journey in 2011 as freelance musicians working with different bands and productions, Bheki & Sanele officially joined forces in 2022. United by a shared passion for edutainment, storytelling, film scoring and African music performance, they have since performed at major platforms including MTN Bushfire, Tinganekwane Festival, Sudwala Caves, Ingcayizivele Book Festival, 16Neto in Mozambique, Mbalazi in Eswatini and several corporate events. Looking ahead, Simelane believes environmental awareness in Eswatini can be strengthened through social media campaigns, music festivals that showcase recycled instruments, recycled art exhibitions and early childhood edutainment programmes.
With Kumnandzi Kubayimvelo, Bheki & Sanele are proving that music can do more than entertain, it can educate, inspire and encourage communities to become better custodians of the environment.
