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MINISTER NZIMA SUGGESTS ARTS, CULTURE INDABA!

By KHETSIWE KHUMALO | 2024-01-09

Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima has suggested an Arts and Culture Indaba for artists.

The minister suggested the round table conversation yesterday during the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) and the Eswatini National Youth Council (ENYC) tour.

Nzima acknowledged the work done by the two offices, saying it was important that they have lengthy conversations that would grow arts and culture in the country.

The minister said he was happy that the arts and culture policy would be released soon as that would guide the ministry.

He recommended that such policies should be pushed to existence.
Nzima who was introduced as vibrant, hands on and a person who loves arts and culture by Director of Arts and Culture, Phinda Nkosi, added that the country was rich with talented people.
He said he had seen many being implemented by other countries.

“Kenya, for instance, relies on athletics as their strongest point.
We rely on singing and other things.

We should be able to recognise our strongest points and excel in that. Let us utilise the little budget we get to create sport and art jobs so that people can get paid.

We also need to prioritise competing with other countries,” said the minister.
“We will put everything you have said into action,” he added the minister.

ARTS, CULTURE POLICY TO BE RELEASED IN TWO WEEKS

ESWATINI National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) Chief Executive Officer Stanley Dlamini said the office was getting ready to release the Arts and Culture Policy in the next two weeks.

Dlamini said this was after the office together with the different associations and artists contributed to the draft. He said there were a lot of subject matters raised such as the hosting venues. “We ask that the ministry assists us in gaining access to the Trade Fair and some of its facilities.

These venues would be helpful to the different associations, such as the Choral association, which always hosts an audience of over 2 000. Places such as the ICC auditorium, which was said would take approximately 4 500 people, would be of great use,” said Dlamini.

The CEO further invited the minister to attend some of the biggest events hosted in the country such as the MTN Bushfire, Epic Gig, Makoti Festival, Mother of All Gospel Show and more, so that they too feel they have the support of the minister and his office.

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