BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MALKERNS— The MTN Bushfire Festival, in partnership with the European Union, has officially launched the 2026 EU Bushfire Schools Festival, reaffirming a powerful commitment to youth empowerment through the arts at a time when creative skills are opening new pathways of opportunity for young emaSwati.
The launch, held at House on Fire on May 5, 2026, marked the start of another impactful chapter in a programme that has quietly transformed thousands of young lives over the past 15 years.
Set for May 28, 2026, a day before the main Bushfire weekend, the Schools Festival will bring together more than 600 high school learners and out-of-school youth from across the country for a full day of immersive artistic engagement under the theme “Art in Action: Future in the Making.”
What makes the initiative remarkable is that it is not a performance showcase, but a structured learning platform. Learners take part in hands-on workshops in music, dance, poetry, theatre, visual arts and creative entrepreneurship, working side by side with professional artists and industry practitioners. Here, young people do not simply watch art — they create it, learn from it and begin to see it as a viable future.
Over the years, nearly 10 000 young people have passed through this programme, many leaving with renewed confidence, sharpened skills and a broader understanding of opportunities within the creative economy.
Speaking at the launch, EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, reflected on the journey of a partnership that has stood the test of time.
“For more than 10 years now — actually, it’s more than 15 years — the European Union has been very proud to be part of this annual EU Bushfire Schools Festival, which takes place a day before the launch of the main festival, bringing together more than 600 high school learners for a day of self-expression in the many languages of the art,” he said.
“Over this period, we have brought almost 10 000 young people through this day. It is an impressive event that goes beyond performance, serving as a structured space where learners and out-of-school youth engage in workshops, artistic expression and skills-based learning alongside professional artists and industry stakeholders.”
“I’m very proud and glad that we continue with this partnership this year again, and we look forward to another exciting day with the high school learners and out-of-school youth on the 28th of May.”
The Schools Festival has become a key pillar of Bushfire’s long-standing commitment to arts development and youth inclusion in Eswatini, extending the festival’s impact beyond entertainment into education and empowerment.
This year’s edition carries added significance as it forms part of Europe Month, marking 50 years of partnership between the European Union and the Kingdom of Eswatini. The Schools Festival stands as a living symbol of that partnership — one invested not only in policy and development, but in the creative potential of young people.
As the countdown to May 28 begins, the message behind the EU Bushfire Schools Festival is clear: in Eswatini, creativity is not a hobby. It is a skill, a voice and, for many young people, the beginning of a future they can shape for themselves.
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(Courtesy Pics)
