BY EPN REPORTER
MBABANE – More than 150 artists from across Southern Africa have arrived in Eswatini for the October International Theatre Festival, bringing with them skills, experience and fresh creative energy for the country’s growing arts sector.
The visiting artists are from South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana and have been engaging local creatives through master classes covering acting, theatre, scriptwriting, dance and production.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu welcomed the regional delegation and praised the exchange as an important opportunity for EmaSwati artists to sharpen their skills and build stronger links with creatives from neighbouring countries.
The programme has also included live performances at the Eswatini Theatre Club, giving local audiences an opportunity to experience productions and artistic styles from across the region.
Shakantu thanked the governments of South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique for helping facilitate and support the participation of their artists in the festival.
She said the visit went beyond entertainment, as the arts also provide a platform for cultural exchange, diplomacy and stronger relations among countries.
Through the master classes, aspiring EmaSwati actors, writers, dancers and producers have been able to interact directly with experienced regional practitioners, gaining practical knowledge that could strengthen future local productions.
The visiting artists, in turn, thanked Shakantu for her support of Eswatini’s creative industry and for recognising the contribution artists can make to national development and international cooperation.
The Minister also acknowledged institutions that provided venues and support for the training sessions, including the United States Embassy in Eswatini, Alliance Française, the Eswatini Theatre Club and Youini Loku Gallery.
Government has expressed hope that initiatives such as the October International Theatre Festival will help develop a new generation of EmaSwati performers and producers capable of staging productions that can compete on regional and international platforms.
Attention is also expected to turn increasingly towards the country’s new state-of-the-art ICC Theatre, which was officially opened by His Majesty King Mswati III.
The facility provides local creatives with a modern platform on which large-scale theatre productions, cultural performances and international shows can be staged.
The arrival of more than 150 regional artists therefore represents more than a festival gathering. It creates an opportunity for knowledge transfer, collaboration and exposure while strengthening Eswatini’s position as a growing meeting point for arts and culture in Southern Africa.
