Mbabane – Eswatini is making inroads to be entered into UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list.
This was disclosed on Monday by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, who said the country is now prepared to elevate its traditions to the world stage.
Speaking at the opening of the four-day workshop on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH), themed “Building Capacities for Safeguarding Living Heritage,” the minister said it propels the cultural sector to move into a “new era,”as efforts to move from merely ratifying conventions to earning global recognition for its living heritage are being made.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini is defined by its vibrant, living heritage, customs , expressions, knowledge l, and skills that are transmitted from generation to generation, a vital, non-renewable resource that must be protected, promoted, and transmitted,” she said.
“Our participation in the UNESCO 2003 Convention is not a formality, but a declaration of belief,” she added.
The convention is an international treaty to protect “living heritage” like oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, knowledge of nature, and traditional craftsmanship.
Mkhonta-Simelane said Eswatini cannot continue being among the few African countries with no inscriptions on UNESCO’s global lists, making it clear that the country is now transitioning “from ratification to recognition.”
“We now carry the important responsibility of ensuring that Eswatini moves from ratification to recognition, towards inscriptions, towards world heritage sites, and towards global showcasing of the rich cultural tapestry that defines us,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Lwandle Simelane, the Secretary General for Eswatini National Commission for UNESCO stated that national heritage must be presented by emaSwati themselves: “Sikhumbule kutsi sinesibopho lesikhulu njengeMaSwati… Kumele kutsi sive setfu sivakale. Loku akusiko kwentela bona kepha kwentela bantfwana betfu,” she said in vernacular, meaning EmaSwati must remember that they have a responsibility and that EmaSwati must be heard, and they are not doing it for themselves but for future generations.
According to the Secretary General, this training marks a direct response to His Majesty the King’s call for the government to act with urgency, popularly framed as “Hulumende akagijime atsi Nkwe.” Partnerships with UNESCO and Japan, he said, embody the spirit of moving swiftly and strategically.
Eswatini National Trust Commission board chair, Fortunate Shabalala, reiterated that safeguarding culture is directly tied to development, noting that successful UNESCO inscriptions often boost tourism and global visibility.
“Culture must not be treated as an afterthought, but as a driver of development,” She stressed. She added that the country’s heritage sites and practices do not simply attract visitors but they enrich the national economy and foster pride.
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