BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE – Bushland Farm has donated animal skins to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, enabling persons with disabilities to make traditional attire, gain practical skills and proudly participate in Umhlanga and other national cultural ceremonies.
For many young people with disabilities, taking part in Eswatini’s cultural ceremonies is about more than wearing traditional attire it is about belonging, identity and celebrating their heritage with pride. Thanks to the generosity of Bushland Farm, that experience will become a reality for many this year.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office has expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Bushland Farm for donating animal skins that will be transformed into lihawu, emajobo and tigeja, giving persons with disabilities the opportunity to participate with confidence and dignity in Umhlanga, Emaganu and Incwala.
As preparations for this year’s Umhlanga Ceremony gather pace, the Eswatini School for the Deaf Libutfo, working closely with the Indvuna responsible for the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Libutfo, will turn the donated animal skins into traditional lihawu.
Beyond producing
cultural attire, the initiative is equipping learners and young persons with disabilities with practical craftsmanship skills that can create future opportunities while preserving Eswatini’s rich cultural heritage. Every garment they make will represent not only tradition but also determination, inclusion and self belief.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office said the initiative reflects its commitment to ensuring that disability inclusion is woven into every aspect of society, including the nation’s cultural traditions. It believes every emaSwati should have the opportunity to celebrate the country’s customs with pride, regardless of ability.
The initiative also advances the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) by promoting the right of persons with disabilities to participate fully in cultural life. It further contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) and supports the implementation of the Eswatini National Disability Plan of Action (ENDPA) 2024–2028, which prioritises inclusive skills development, culture and recreation, social protection, gender equality, economic empowerment and the full participation of persons with disabilities in national development.
More than a donation of animal skins, Bushland Farm has helped create an opportunity for young people with disabilities to embrace their culture, learn valuable skills and stand proudly alongside fellow emaSwati during some of the country’s most cherished national ceremonies.
#InclusiveEswatini #LeaveNoOneBehind #DisabilityInclusion #Umhlanga2026
(Courtesy Pic)
