….young talent takes centre stage
….arts become a classroom
….learners urged to tell eswatini’s stories
BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE — The stage at the Genesis Ekucaleni Creative Schools Festival was more than a place for young performers to showcase their talent yesterday; it became a classroom, a platform for self-expression and a possible starting point for lifelong careers in the creative arts.
Speaking on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu, ETA Board Chairperson Penelope Mkhwanazi challenged young artists to take their talent seriously and use theatre, poetry, dance and storytelling to carry Eswatini’s identity beyond its borders.
Her remarks came as the country prepares for the October International Theatre Festival, which brings together local and international creative practitioners from October 1–3.
Mkhwanazi told learners that their participation in the Genesis Ekucaleni programme should not be viewed simply as another school activity, but as an opportunity to discover where their creativity could take them.
“The stage before us today may appear to be simply a place for performance. However, for these learners, it is much more than that. It is a classroom, a place of discovery, a platform for self-expression and, perhaps, the beginning of a lifelong calling,” she said.
The Genesis Ekucaleni School of Creative Arts Schools Festival brought together learners from 20 schools for workshops and performances designed to expose them to different aspects of the creative industry.
Three schools — Vulamasango High School, Swazi National High School and Ngomane Primary School — were specifically recognised after earning their place through their success in the Inyatsi Schools Arts Drama and Theatre Competitions.
Mkhwanazi congratulated the learners, noting that their achievement was the result of talent, discipline, courage and teamwork.
However, she reminded them that winning a competition should not be regarded as the end of their journey.
“Winning the competition was not the end of your journey. It opened the door to another stage of learning, preparation and development,” she said.
Over the two weeks preceding the festival, Genesis Ekucaleni supported the three schools by providing a director to help the learners refine their productions.
For Mkhwanazi, such mentorship demonstrates why nurturing young talent requires more than simply identifying talented performers.
“It is not enough simply to recognise talent; we must also provide the guidance, training and platforms necessary for that talent to develop,” she said.
The festival’s workshops exposed learners to children’s theatre, creative writing, poetry, directing, dance and theatre, while also highlighting the many career opportunities available behind the scenes.
Mkhwanazi noted that not every young person would necessarily become a performer, with opportunities also existing in writing, directing, choreography, production, costume design, lighting, sound, film, digital content and event production.
She further emphasised the role of the creative arts in developing confidence, discipline, empathy, communication, teamwork and critical thinking.
But beyond skills and careers, Mkhwanazi placed particular emphasis on storytelling and cultural identity.
“Most importantly, the arts give us the power to tell our own stories,” she said.
She urged young emaSwati not to believe that meaningful stories can only come from outside the country.
“Your experiences matter. Your voices matter. Your stories matter. Your dreams matter,” she said.
As the October International Theatre Festival begins, the message also extends beyond the three participating schools.
Mkhwanazi said Eswatini’s creative industries could serve as instruments of cultural diplomacy, allowing international audiences to encounter the Kingdom through the voices, experiences and creativity of emaSwati.
“When our artists perform beyond our borders, they do more than entertain. They carry our identity, our history, our values and the spirit of our nation with them. They become cultural ambassadors of the Kingdom of Eswatini,” she said.
She also challenged the young performers to view the Genesis Ekucaleni festival as a beginning rather than a destination.
“Do not regard today as your destination. Regard it as your beginning,” she said.
With the October International Theatre Festival now underway, the young performers have been given more than a stage. They have been given an opportunity to learn, create and begin imagining where their stories could take them.
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