…Authors to gather on 26 August to establish a national association…
…The association aims to represent, support and connect authors…
…Copyright, intellectual property and professional development will be key priorities…
…The November conference will focus on literature, storytelling, publishing and literary careers…
BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE – Every story begins with a voice, but Eswatini’s writers are being called to make theirs louder, united and impossible to overlook.
Local author Nicky Ndwandwe is bringing authors and writers together for a National Authors’ Consultative and Founding Meeting aimed at establishing the Eswatini National Association for Authors (ENAA) on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, at Endibanweni, National Library in Mbabane.
The meeting, convened through The Chapter Initiative, seeks to create a united and professional platform that will represent authors, promote local literature and strengthen the country’s literary sector.
Ndwandwe, author of The Chapter – Volume 1, said the gathering was an important step towards moving authorship from individual journeys to collective action.
The proposed association will represent the interests of writers, support emerging and established authors, promote professional development, advocate for authors’ rights and increase awareness of copyright and intellectual property.
Authors will also deliberate on membership categories, governance structures, the proposed constitution, sustainability, literary promotion, regional and international opportunities and the election of an Executive Committee. A proposed constitution will be presented for discussion, with writers expected to contribute amendments before its formal adoption.
The initiative grows from Ndwandwe’s memoir, which explores resilience, healing, faith, education, leadership and purpose. Through The Chapter Initiative, the author aims to use literature as a tool for literacy, personal development and community transformation.
The meeting will also introduce the Writers & Authors Impact Conference, scheduled for 13–14 November 2026 under the theme, ‘Writing for Impact: Transforming Lives and Communities Through Literature, Innovation and Storytelling’.
The two-day programme will feature a Writers and Authors Impact Gala and Awards on 13 November, followed by an Authors’ Masterclass on 14 November focusing on writing, publishing, marketing, intellectual property and literary entrepreneurship.
Ndwandwe said every person has a story worth telling and urged writers to take ownership of their collective future.
The initiative is supported by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture and ESWACOS through the Fund for Creativity and Artist Development (CIDF).
The meeting will run from 9am to noon, with authors, poets, playwrights, researchers, academics, motivational writers, self-published authors and aspiring writers invited to participate.
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