BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
BUHLENI – The Buganu Ceremony at Buhleni Royal Residence continues to demonstrate how Eswatini’s rich cultural traditions can be effectively used to advance national health and social development priorities.
The first leg of Buganu 2026 attracted an estimated 40 000 Lutsango, creating a powerful platform for health education, leadership engagement and community mobilisation alongside the presentation of tetfulo to Their Majesties.
Among the organisations actively using the cultural gathering to promote wellbeing was Khulisa Umntfwana, which implemented a Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) campaign focusing on HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention.
Bheki Shabangu from Khulisa Umntfwana said the organisation deliberately uses national events such as Buganu to reach communities with life-saving information. He highlighted key messages including abstinence, faithfulness and correct condom use, the importance of HIV testing, adherence to treatment, and collective action in preventing and reporting GBV within communities.
Shabangu further noted that Khulisa Umntfwana works with trained Lutsango drawn from its programmes, who have been capacitated through support from NERCHA, Youth Funds and other stakeholders to act as peer educators and champions of positive behaviour change.
Reinforcing the same message, Dr. Nondumiso Ncube, National Executive Director of NERCHA, said national cultural events such as the Buganu Festival provide an important opportunity to educate Lutsango on how to protect themselves and their families from HIV.
She said the gatherings also allow partners to encourage women to continue playing their critical role at home by teaching children about staying safe, responsible behaviour and HIV prevention, ensuring that lessons shared during the festival are sustained within families and communities.
National Secretary of the Lutsango Regiment, Joyce Vilane, highlighted additional support available to the regiment, including access to a cancer mobile truck during the festival. She also unpacked the continued role of chiefs and traditional leadership in shaping values, guiding behaviour and maintaining respect as the celebrations progress.
Meanwhile, the Royal Eswatini Police Service used the platform to educate Lutsango on GBV, reinforcing the importance of prevention, reporting and community responsibility in protecting women and children.
“As we celebrate the marula harvest, we are reminded that culture and health must move together,” said one stakeholder. “Guided by tradition and leadership, we can build a healthier, safer Eswatini.”
As first leg of Buganu 2026 concluded at Buhleni, the ceremony once again proved that Eswatini’s cultural gatherings are more than symbolic celebrations. They served as effective platforms for education, protection and unity, bringing together traditional leadership, government institutions and partners in advancing health, dignity and family values.
The event reaffirmed that safeguarding communities remains a shared national responsibility, firmly grounded in culture and collective action.
