BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE— What if the land beneath our feet could tell stories of who we were, the traditions we inherited and the cultural treasures we risk losing? Through the powerful lens of conceptual photography, self-taught visual artist Sinenkosi Msomi is inviting emaSwati to reconnect with their roots and rediscover the beauty of their cultural identity.
Msomi’s exhibition, The Land Remembers, opened at Yini Loku yesterday, taking visitors on a nostalgic journey through Eswatini’s living heritage, childhood memories and traditional practices that continue to shape the nation’s identity.
The exhibition explores cultural preservation through photographs that revisit traditional hairstyles, fabrics, objects, significant locations and inherited knowledge, reminding audiences that culture is not simply something to be remembered but a living legacy that must be protected and passed on to future generations.
For Msomi, the exhibition is more than an artistic showcase. It is an invitation to reflect on where emaSwati come from and what could be lost if traditional knowledge is allowed to fade from public memory.
“My artworks are about remembering where we come from and the importance of retaining our identity,” he said.
The project was developed through close engagement with elders, women, young people and cultural custodians, who contributed their knowledge and experiences to help bridge the past and present.
Msomi described the process as a genuine learning curve, explaining that the information gathered from different generations challenged him to transform cultural knowledge into creative and conceptual artworks.
Among the cultural practices that stood out for him were the use of Ludziwo and drinking water from natural sources such as rivers and springs.
He expressed concern that these practices risk being forgotten as technology becomes increasingly influential among younger generations and everyday life becomes more modernised.
Through his photographs, Msomi seeks to capture the quieter aspects of cultural preservation that are often overlooked, allowing viewers to recognise the significance of traditions that may once have formed part of their everyday lives.
He believes photography is particularly powerful because images can outlive the people who capture them, preserving moments that can educate future generations about their history and traditions.
“The land never forgets and the land teaches us to embrace our roots,” he said, explaining the significance of the exhibition’s title.
Msomi’s work is also deeply connected to childhood memories, which he believes play an important role in shaping individual identity. By recreating these memories, he hopes to encourage self-expression while remaining true to his cultural background.
With eight years of artistic practice, Msomi has built a body of work centred on cultural memory, identity and social justice. His photographs have been exhibited in countries including the United Kingdom, United States, France, Senegal, South Africa, India, Pakistan and Nigeria.
His achievements include the Social Justice Prize at the Afrochampions and African Union Nefertiti Arts Challenge in 2020 and first prize in the University of British Columbia Centre for Migration Studies International Contest in 2025. His work is also held in permanent collections at the Hilton Hotel and the American Spaces at the Eswatini National Library.
The exhibition was made possible through funding from the Creative Industry Development Fund, administered by the Eswatini Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Society, with support from the Ministry of Commerce and Trade through the Eswatini Intellectual Property Office.
Expressing his gratitude, Msomi thanked everyone who attended the opening and supported the project, acknowledging their presence as part of the journey of celebrating and preserving Eswatini’s cultural heritage.
For those who missed yesterday’s opening, the exhibition will be available for viewing at Yini Loku from Wednesday next week.
As The Land Remembers opens a window into the nation’s cultural past, its message is clear: preserving heritage requires more than looking back. It calls on every generation to carry its stories forward.
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