Mbabane – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, has granted E1.5 million to the Copyright Society of Eswatini to strengthen the country’s cultural and creative industries. The announcement was made on Thursday, 28 August 2025, by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo.
The funding comes under the initiative “Reinforcing Copyrights for Eswatini’s Cultural and Creative Industries” and aims to support musicians, filmmakers, artisans, and digital innovators across the country.
Minister Khumalo thanked UNESCO and local partners for their support and acknowledged the role of the Copyright Society, the Copyright Office, and the wider creative community in shaping Eswatini’s cultural identity.
He noted that copyright protection is vital for innovation, economic growth, and ensuring that creators are fairly rewarded for their work. The initiative will focus on building capacity for rights holders, developing a five-year strategic plan, and strengthening royalty distribution systems.
The minister urged Emaswati to register their work, understand their intellectual property rights, and take advantage of the support structures to benefit fully from their creative output.
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