BY NELIWE NGUBANE (INTERN)
MBABANE– Creatives across Southern Africa are set to benefit from a major cultural collaboration between the European Union, Goethe-Institut and Babukisi Foundation aimed at strengthening heritage storytelling through art, music, theatre and animation.
The initiative forms part of the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture programme, which is being implemented across six Southern African countries: Eswatini, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
The partnership was officially highlighted during a launch event held at Foresters Arms Hotel in Mbabane, where stakeholders outlined how the programme will reshape cultural production by encouraging cross-border collaboration among artists.
Speaking at the event, Philina Wittke said the project is designed to examine how heritage narratives are formed and reshaped through different perspectives, including those of the past and present, while also addressing themes of age, gender and youth representation.
“One of the topics we are focusing on is how heritage narratives ground us to create a better future,” said Wittke.
She confirmed that grants have been awarded to 19 heritage organisations across the participating countries, with Babukisi Foundation among the selected beneficiaries in Eswatini.
According to Wittke, each selected organisation will work with nine artists drawn from at least three different countries. These creatives will collaborate to produce artistic works that interpret heritage through various mediums such as music, theatre, animation and other visual storytelling formats.
Project team manager for the Southern Africa component, Lot Kafesu, said the programme is open to artists and creatives from across the region, encouraging them to apply and take part in the cross-cultural initiative.
Kafesu added that selected artists will each receive grants of approximately €6,000, with additional support provided for transport and accommodation during collaborative working sessions held in different countries.
“We want to strengthen cultural production capacities of heritage organisations and create opportunities for artists to collaborate across borders,” he said.
The programme is expected to not only enhance creative skills but also build stronger cultural ties between Southern African nations and Europe through shared storytelling and artistic exchange.
Applications for interested artists remain open, with the deadline set for May 29.
The initiative is seen as a significant step towards empowering creatives while preserving and reimagining heritage narratives in a modern, collaborative way.
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(Courtesy Pic)
