BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Eswatini has answered a royal invitation to the 2026 uMhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni cultural celebration in Malawi, with reports from the host country confirming the participation of an Eswatini delegation at the major gathering of Ngoni communities and traditional leaders.
The six-day cultural celebration, held from August 31 to September 5, culminated at the Gomani Chikuse Memorial Grounds in Nkolimbo Village, under Traditional Authority Kwataine in Ntcheu District.
Malawi media reports listed Eswatini among the countries represented at the gathering, alongside Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Lesotho. Nyasa Times reported ahead of the event that delegates from eSwatini were expected to attend, while subsequent coverage confirmed the participation of regional delegations.
The participation gives added significance to the cultural gathering because of the historical connections linking the Maseko Ngoni to the wider Nguni heritage of Southern Africa.
The 2026 uMhlangano was organised around the theme “Ubunye Bunamandla” – Unity is Strength, bringing together communities separated by modern national borders but connected by history, culture and ancestry.
The gathering featured traditional songs, dances, ceremonial displays and discussions around the preservation of cultural heritage, national unity and social challenges affecting communities.
However, while Malawi reports confirm Eswatini’s participation, they have not named the individual representatives who attended on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III.
This distinction is important. Available reports identify a number of foreign traditional leaders and representatives who attended the event, but the published coverage does not identify the Eswatini delegation by name or state whether it was led by a particular chief, royal family member or other representative of the King’s household.
The absence of names has therefore left an important detail of Eswatini’s participation yet to be publicly established.
The invitation and subsequent participation nevertheless underline the continued cultural links between Eswatini and the Maseko Ngoni people.
The Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust had earlier announced that the festival would bring together Ngoni communities from across Malawi and representatives from the wider region, including Eswatini. The organisers also positioned the event as an opportunity to preserve cultural identity and strengthen connections among communities with a shared heritage.
The gathering was held at the historic Gomani Chikuse Memorial Grounds, named after Gomani Chikuse, whose legacy remains central to Maseko Ngoni historical identity.
The 2026 celebration consequently provided a platform not only for cultural performances, but also for strengthening traditional relationships across Southern Africa.
For Eswatini, its reported participation places the Kingdom within this regional cultural dialogue and highlights the continuing relevance of traditional institutions in maintaining historical and cultural links across national boundaries.
While the identities of King Mswati III’s representatives remain undisclosed in the available Malawi reports, Eswatini’s presence at uMhlangano 2026 confirms that the invitation extended to the Kingdom was answered.
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(Courtesy Pic)
