BY SIPHOSETHU MABUZA
MANZINI– Twenty young women from across Eswatini’s four regions are now in the running for the Miss Cultural Heritage 2026 title, with the competition placing culture and opportunity at the centre of the pageant.
The contestants were revealed by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC), with five representatives coming from each region. The group includes contestants from Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini and Shiselweni, creating a national field for this year’s competition.
But beyond the crown, the pageant is being linked to practical opportunities for young women. Current Miss Cultural Heritage Yoliswa Manana pointed to the Ligcebesha Making Classes, a project introduced during her reign that has trained young women to make the traditional garments and created opportunities for them to earn an income.
“Because of the Miss Cultural Heritage Pageant, we now have the Ligcebesha Making Classes which is turning ordinary young girls to entrepreneurs,” Manana said. She added that the programme is particularly important at a time when unemployment remains a challenge, saying the initiative has shown that pageants can do more than provide a platform for beauty and competition.
ENCAC Chief Executive Officer Stanley Dlamini also highlighted the wider cultural role of the pageant. “The Miss Cultural Heritage Pageant greatly aligns with the mandate of the council, our culture continues to be marketed with respect and discipline,” Dlamini said. He said the Ligcebesha project had created entrepreneurs in different regions and argued that similar programmes should be introduced.
The 20 contestants are now part of the public voting stage, with voting available through Moja Ticket. With five contestants representing each region, the competition now moves beyond the selection process and towards finding the young woman who will carry the Miss Cultural Heritage title and its cultural responsibilities.
The 2026 contestants are:
HHOHHO
● Sobahle Ndwandwe – 01001
● Snetiswa Magagula – 01002
● Simphiwe Dlamini – 01003
● Simphiwe Mavimbela – 01004
● Nokwanda Shongwe – 01005
LUBOMBO
● Fisokuhle Mashaba – 02006
● Sisekelo Mthiyane – 02007
● Melokuhle Ginindza – 02008
● Mayenziwe Nhlengetfwa – 02009
● Nonhle Malindzisa – 02010
MANZINI
● Nonhle Gama – 03011
● Buhlebetfu Bhembe – 03012
● Sinenhlanhla Shongwe – 03013
● Annah Lawrence – 03014
● Badzelisile Magazi – 03015
SHISELWENI
● Nosizo Sibiya – 04016
● Temlandvo Dlamini – 04017
● Lindelwa Simelane – 04018
● Nosimo Ngcamphalala – 04019
● Yenzokuhle Khumalo – 04020
As the voting phase gets underway, the pageant’s focus remains on more than choosing a winner. The new Miss Cultural Heritage will step into a platform that ENCAC sees as a way of keeping Eswatini’s cultural heritage visible while creating opportunities for young women to participate meaningfully in that work.
#MissCulturalHeritage2026 #EswatiniCulture #EswatiniArts #CulturalHeritage #Eswatini
(Courtesy Pics)
