By Nosipho Mabuza (Intern)
MANZINI – Efforts to preserve and modernize traditional music gains momentum in Manzini!
A bold new initiative to revive, preserves, and modernize Eswatini’s indigenous music traditions was unveiled by the Music Producers Association of Eswatini as part of its 2025/2026 strategic plan.
The announcement was made during a public presentation session hosted by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) at the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) Conference Facility on Friday (June 13, 2025).
Speaking on behalf of the Association, music producer and cultural advocate Nicholas “Slotta” Dlamini emphasized the urgency of safeguarding the kingdom’s rich musical heritage. He highlighted the need to document and archive traditional instruments like the Makhoyane, Ingulube, and Sitorotoro, which are at risk of disappearing as older generations pass on.
“It would be painful to watch these instruments disappear with the elders,” Slotta said. “We want to capture, record, and archive them for producers, creatives, and scholars to access and learn from.”
He stressed that for Eswatini’s indigenous sounds to remain relevant, they must be integrated into contemporary music genres such as Amapiano, House, and R&B—creating a fusion of past and present that entertains, educates, and inspires.
Slotta noted that the gap in intergenerational knowledge transfer is growing. “The masters of these instruments are fading away, and if we don’t act now to document and teach, their skills will vanish too,” he warned. He urged that access to learning these instruments must be broadened, particularly for young people interested in experimenting with traditional sounds.
The initiative seeks to reintroduce ancient instruments in fresh, creative ways—comparable to how vintage fashion trends have made a modern comeback. “Some instruments, like the Ingulube and Sitorotoro, remain largely unfamiliar to today’s youth. There’s beauty in rediscovering them and reimagining how they can live in today’s music,” Slotta explained.
He also called for collective action: “This revival isn’t just for producers. It requires collaboration between government, artists, producers, and cultural custodians to ensure that this cultural wealth is recorded, mixed, stored, and preserved for future generations.”
Echoing his sentiments, Stanley Dlamini, CEO of Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC), highlighted the global significance of the Makhoyane, noting that it is the only musical instrument known to have originated from Eswatini and gained international recognition.
This proposal is one of several submitted during the public presentation, where arts associations outlined their national and regional projects for the year ahead.
As Eswatini grapples with how to balance heritage preservation and modern artistic expression, the Music Producers Association’s vision could be a pivotal step in re-establishing indigenous music as both a cultural treasure and a creative resource for future generations.
(Courtesy Pics)
