By Phumzile Ndlovu
NHLANGANO – From the soulful hills of Dlovunga, Mazombizwe, emerges a commanding voice in Eswatini’s creative landscape — Dzeli The Poet.
Born Dzeli Mdluli- Lekgowe ,she is currently preparing for a prestigious two-month internship in South Africa for BET Africa with Paramount Pictures for the Writers Room — a milestone that she sees not just as personal growth but as an investment in Eswatini’s broader storytelling community. She is also the head writer for BakaNgwane.
In a major leap for Eswatini’s performing arts, Dzeli’s Divine Artist Drama Lab has partnered with the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) to launch comprehensive training programmes for aspiring actors in both theatre and film. The collaboration was officially announced on June 11, 2025, at Molly’s House of Grill in Mbabane.
A poet, writer, and founder of Divine Artist, she describes her artistic journey as a spiritual calling. “I didn’t fall in love with poetry — poetry chose me, and I accepted the call,” she shares with quiet conviction. “I plan to share what I learn with upcoming writers back home,” she says.
Beyond poetry, Dzeli is a dynamic storyteller across multiple disciplines. “I’m passionate about all forms of storytelling — poetry, film, and theatre,” she says.
Her artistic journey began at the Theatre Club through Rooted Soul’z, and she has since performed regionally and internationally — from MTN Bushfire Festival to The Barn, Divas Stage, Mozambique, and Africa Day in Durban, where she was featured by Thobile Makhoyane.
She believes the arts, particularly poetry, are slowly receiving more recognition in Eswatini. “I think so,” she says with cautious optimism.
Her writing portfolio includes Human, a 2017 short film commissioned by the European Union and launched at Gables. She also staged a one-woman theatrical performance at Bahle Gallery, is head writer for BakaNgwane, and is developing another short film set to go into production.
Since founding Divine Artist in 2017, Dzeli has offered writing services, theatre production, and visual design. Her Drama Lab storytelling classes — run in partnership with Genesis Ekucaleni, Theatre Club, and ENCAC — aims to develop grassroots talent.
Under her leadership, Divine Artist also launched Voices, Eswatini’s first-ever listening exhibition, in collaboration with One Billion Rising, spotlighting stories from women in the African diaspora. The organisation also hosts an annual Men’s Conference in partnership with UNFPA and others, addressing gender-based violence and mental health through storytelling.
Dzeli’s purpose is powerful and clear: “We use stories to heal, educate, and empower. That’s the heart of what I do.”
