Cleopatra Gcinekile Methula, known professionally as Cleopatra Methula (born 29 December 1993) is an Eswatini Country music singer, song-writer, guitar player and graphic designer. She has been referred to as the ‘Queen of Country music in Africa’ by the CNN African Voices. Her songs are written in siSwati and English, her original song-writing skills have created a new energetic scene in the country music world. She is the very first female country musician from Eswatini  to be nominated and invited to Perform at the ‘TEXAS SOUNDS INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS’ held in Texas October 2019.

Most of her fans call her “Misses Roses”. This was after she wrote one of her songs entitled ‘Misses Roses’. Her songs are inspired by real life stories that reflect on love, family, friends, forgiveness, pain, joy and more.

The singer is one of the Directors and a member of the EUnited Art of Eswatini, a co-founded organisation by Minerva and European Union.

She released her hit-single titled ‘Imali’ which became a hit on national radio station Eswatini Broadcasting Information Services (EBIS) and it made it to be in the ESBIS Top 20. She has played in Kenya, South Africa and Eswatini. She performed at the MTN SWAMA Awards 2018 as she was nominated for Best Country Category. The singer has also been nominated and invited to perform and at the Texas Sound International Country Music Awards in the United States of America 17th-20th October 2019. One of her music highlights was when she was featured live in the CNN AFRICAN VOICES, 8th February – 11th February 2019.

Background and music career

Cleopatra is the third child in a family of five, born on the 29th of December 1993, she grew up with her four siblings in Mbabane, Eswatini where both her parents lived. Losing her father in 2004 left her mother with great responsibility to raise and provide for the family.  After completing her high school, her mother moved the family to the farm at Sihhohhweni where they would mostly stay during holidays. It was always a lovely place to be, peaceful and more country.  

As a young girl she was always encouraged by her mother to sing, especially at church, though she was a bit shy, her mother believed she had an amazing voice which only needed to be natured. She joined choral music at school which grew her love for singing. Some of the things she enjoyed doing included writing songs and sketching.

She never stopped writing songs as it was something she enjoyed very much. After one recording she made with her phone singing ‘wild flowers’ by Dolly Parton, you could have seen the joy in her mother’s eyes. Everyone who came to visit them at farm would not leave without listening to the audio or Cleopatra being asked to sing them a song. She remembers how her mother and family could not get enough of Dolly Parton’s song ‘Coat of many colours.’

Late 2012 her mother, Mrs Adelaide .T. Methula passed away, it was a sad time for the family but that’s when Cleopatra’s music career began.  Shortly after her mother passed away together with her sisters she wrote a song titled ‘These memories’, special dedication to her late mother. She then met up with the Dusty & Stones, a country music duo in the country which had been taking the music genre by storm. Meeting them changed things for her, she has never thought she can pursue singing as a career but it was the beginning of a great journey ahead.

After sending a message to Dusty (Gazi Simelane) telling him about how much she loves their music and wish to do a special song with them, she was shocked when he responded that he would like to meet her. Dusty went to her farm and was amazed by Cleopatra’s country voice and the original songs she wrote. That year the duo (Dusty & Stones) helped her record her first demo of the song ‘these memories’. The duo featured her in most of their gigs around the country. The country music singer, song writer and guitar player has since been on the road, performing in different places and occasions in and outside of Eswatini. In her performances she includes both traditional and modern country music.  She has since released her hit-single ‘Imali’, and  her follow up single ‘All The Girls in the World’.

Nominations

MTN SWAMA Nominee, NOVEMBER 2018

Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards, October 2019

 South African Country Music Awards, December 2019

Achievements  

Cleopatra is one of the musicians who is proud to have been able to meet the Country Music Icon Mr Kenny Rodgers during his last tour in South Africa, it was such an honour for her to present the legend with gifts and help him wear the traditional attire ‘Lihiya’ from the Kingdom of Eswatini. 

Cleopatra’s Musical journey featured by CNN African Voices, 08Th February 2019, this was such a great achievement in her music career. Breaking barriers as her musical journey was watched by the whole world. 

Performed in front of His Majesty King Mswati III, during a number of occasions which include the army day and other prestigious awards events.

Amongst her great achievement she has been one of the Guest panellist for UWC Waterford Kamhlaba Africa Week held in the month of July 2019. Invited to discuss matters associated with art industry in Africa. With her music career she has become a positive influence to young people who wish to pursue their career in music or the art industry as a whole.