MBABANE — Eswatini’s artists have been challenged to tell authentic Swati stories that can resonate with global audiences, as the country seeks to project its identity and culture beyond its borders.
Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) CEO Stanley Dlamini made the call at the launch of the inaugural October International Theatre Festival in Mbabane, saying theatre and other creative platforms can become powerful vehicles for presenting the Kingdom to the world.
“The world wants to see the real Eswatini,” Dlamini said, urging creatives to embrace stories rooted in the country’s culture, experiences and identity rather than focusing only on entertaining local audiences.
He said cultural storytelling continues to shape how countries are understood globally, and Eswatini’s artists have a key role to play in defining that narrative.
Dlamini also called for the Mbabane Theatre to receive greater attention in the city’s development plans, saying the creative space should be treated as an important part of the capital’s cultural identity rather than an afterthought.
“Make the Mbabane theatre bold,” he said, stressing that the theatre should be prioritised when resources are allocated as the city works to strengthen its creative and cultural offering.
For Dlamini, investing in theatre is about more than providing artists with a stage. It is about creating spaces where local stories can be developed, performed and shared with audiences at home and abroad.
The October International Theatre Festival, running from 1 to 3 October 2026, seeks to contribute to that vision by bringing together local and international creatives while creating opportunities for theatre, artistic development and cultural exchange.
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