BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE— What happens when local creators step beyond Eswatini’s borders, not merely to celebrate their craft, but to discover how creativity can become a sustainable business? For comedians and content creators Gogo Eswatini and S’lwane, the answer lies in curiosity, collaboration and learning from those who have built successful careers in the digital space.
The duo represented Eswatini at the 2026 Content Creator Awards in South Africa on Saturday, 17 October, where creators, influencers, industry professionals and brand representatives gathered at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, to celebrate digital creativity and recognise the growing influence of the creator economy.
Returning from the experience, Gogo and S’lwane say their biggest takeaway is that content creation can become a meaningful source of employment and economic growth when approached with intention, professionalism and a clear understanding of the business behind it.
Their experience has also strengthened their commitment to developing Eswatini’s creative industry, with the duo spearheading a Creative Economy Accelerator Programme supported by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Eswatini as a key partner.
“We learnt that content creation makes a lot of sense, both economically and socially, there is just a lot this space has to offer everyone, only if managed with intention and detail,” the duo said.
They added that the numbers behind the industry point to opportunities still waiting to be fully realised, with some already emerging.
“We are happy to be the nervous system of Eswatini’s own ambitions with it,” they said.
The awards, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, celebrated excellence across 20 categories, recognising creators working in comedy, music, dance, fashion, social storytelling, branded content and other digital disciplines.
Hosted by South African comedian and entertainer Mpho “Popps” Modikoane, the ceremony brought together established personalities and emerging creators, alongside businesses and industry stakeholders investing in digital content.
One of the night’s biggest winners was Grace Mondlana, who took home both the Samsung Galaxy Creator of the Year Award and the Trendsetter Award. Vafa Naraghi also secured two awards, winning Best Social Series and Thumbstopping.
For Gogo and S’lwane , however, the value of attending extended beyond the trophies and performances. They arrived with a clear intention to connect with people whose experiences could inform their own work back home.
“On the night, we were very particular about who we had to meet and what we wanted to extract from those meetings,” they explained.
The duo said they met several influential figures in South Africa’s content creation industry, including Grace Mondlana, Tanaka Dube, Lebo Lion and dancer Chad Jones.
They described the conversations as valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, gain practical knowledge and establish relationships that could influence their future projects.
The experience also gave them an opportunity to engage with corporate representatives, who play an important role in deciding where brands invest their marketing budgets and which creators they partner with.
For the duo, understanding the perspectives of these decision-makers is essential to building a creative industry that can attract investment and create opportunities for local talent.
Beyond networking, Gogo and S’lwane said one of the most encouraging lessons was discovering that many established South African creators had also started from humble beginnings.
They explained that interacting with industry leaders revealed similarities between the challenges experienced by creators across the region, particularly those who have had to build their careers and industries with limited resources.
The lesson, they said, was that a professional creator economy is possible when people remain persistent and continue learning.
They highlighted curiosity, intention, networking and compliance as important elements of building sustainable careers in content creation.
For the duo, creators should not limit themselves to their immediate surroundings or assume that opportunities begin and end within their national borders.
“Curiosity, intention and knowing that the world doesn’t start from where we are and ends at our borders have done well for us,” they said.
They also encouraged collaboration, noting that working with others can help creators overcome barriers, reach new audiences and develop fresh ideas.
Their message is particularly relevant to Eswatini’s emerging digital industry, where creators can use online platforms to tell local stories while attracting audiences and commercial partners from beyond the Kingdom.
While smartphones and internet access have made content creation more accessible, Gogo and S’lwane believe that building a sustainable career requires much more than recording videos and posting them online.
They said local creators must be intentional about their work and understand the systems that support professional content production.
These include developing a distinctive creative identity, understanding audiences, maintaining consistency, collaborating with others, complying with relevant requirements and learning how to engage potential commercial partners.
“There is a lot in between and at the extremes, which is exactly where the magic of content creation resides, the trick then is to find these sweet spots,” they explained.
Their observations point to the importance of treating content creation as a profession rather than simply a pastime.
A creator may attract attention through entertaining videos, but turning that attention into a sustainable livelihood requires planning, business knowledge and an understanding of how to create value for audiences and brands.
For young emaSwati hoping to enter the industry, the opportunity is to develop both their creative abilities and the professional skills needed to manage their careers.
Gogo and S’lwane also emphasised the importance of platforms such as the Content Creator Awards in recognising the work of digital creators.
They said recognition can encourage creators to continue developing their craft while affirming that their work has value.
“Efforts acknowledged and rewarded are livelihoods sustained,” they said, highlighting the importance of celebrating creators, particularly young people seeking economic opportunities in a challenging environment.
However, they believe Eswatini needs to go beyond celebrating individual achievements and invest in developing the systems that allow the industry to grow.
They argued that local creatives need access to professional development, clear industry structures and a better understanding of how the business operates.
“For Eswatini, the same model can start with capacitating the industry on how to run the game well, and why it must be run well,” they said.
They added that corporate investment is more likely to grow when businesses encounter clear systems, professional standards and a shared understanding of how partnerships should work.
“Corporates invest where there are systems and clarity,” they explained, describing this as an important foundation for sustainable industry growth.
Their message is that Eswatini has creative talent, but unlocking its economic potential requires collaboration between creators, businesses, institutions and other stakeholders.
One of the initiatives through which Gogo and S’lwane hope to contribute to this development is the Creative Economy Accelerator Programme, which they are spearheading with support from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and UNDP Eswatini.
The initiative is intended to help talented young emaSwati develop their creative abilities and pursue opportunities within the creative economy.
The duo encouraged young people with creative ambitions to take the first step by registering for the programme.
“Just start creating and your tribe will find you, somehow, somewhere,and believe me, they always do,” they said, offering encouragement to aspiring creators who may be waiting for the perfect opportunity or the right resources before beginning.
They added that creators should not allow the pursuit of perfection to prevent them from starting, but should remain committed to learning and improving along the way.
Registration is available at eyep.gogoandslwane.com.
The programme represents an opportunity for young creatives to explore a more structured approach to developing their talents and careers. Prospective applicants should consult the registration platform for the programme’s eligibility requirements and application details.
Gogo and S’lwane believe that one of the challenges facing local creators is becoming too comfortable producing content exclusively for audiences within Eswatini.
While local stories remain important, they said creators should also consider how their content can appeal to audiences in other markets without losing its identity.
They encouraged creatives to remain curious, explore collaborations and recognise that regional growth does not necessarily require physically relocating to another country.
Through digital platforms, creators can introduce their culture, humour, experiences and perspectives to wider audiences while building relationships with people and businesses across the region.
The duo’s experience in South Africa reinforced their belief that professional relationships and a willingness to learn can help local creatives move beyond geographical limitations.
Their message is not that emaSwati should abandon local audiences, but that stories rooted in Eswatini can also find a place in the wider African digital landscape.
As they return from the awards, Gogo and S’lwane are encouraging emerging creators to start where they are, remain consistent and pursue opportunities beyond familiar surroundings.
For Eswatini’s creative economy to flourish, their experience suggests that talent must be supported by knowledge, collaboration, professional standards and access to opportunities.
Ultimately, the journey beyond the border has reinforced a simple message: Eswatini’s creative talent can compete beyond its borders, but building a sustainable industry begins with creators who are willing to start, learn and keep building.
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(Courtesy Pic)
