MBABANE – A group of over ten SAN Bushmen arrived in Eswatini on Monday, kicking off a week-long cultural exchange that will take them across schools, heritage sites, and communities in the Hhohho Region.
The delegation crossed into the country through the Ngwenya Border Post, where they were received by the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, alongside officials from the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC) and Philani Maswati Chairperson Lutfo Dlamini.
The visit is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Ministry, ENTC, and Philani Maswati, aimed at promoting cultural dialogue and preserving indigenous knowledge systems. The exchange is anchored in showcasing the heritage of two communities: Eswatini and the SAN Bushmen—widely regarded as one of Africa’s oldest indigenous groups.
Shortly after arriving, the group travelled to Mbabane, where they held an impromptu performance at the city’s main bus rank. Their traditional singing and dancing quickly drew a crowd of onlookers, many of whom joined the moment with applause and phone cameras.
Later, the SAN delegation visited the Eswatini National Museum, where they met with students from schools including Langeni, Mahlanya, and Kobe. Elangeni High School learners performed a Swazi traditional dance in honour of the visitors, who responded with a cultural performance of their own.
The group is expected to remain in Eswatini through the week, with scheduled visits to the Bushmen rock art sites around Ndzingeni and planned educational engagements in local schools.
A headline cultural performance will take place on Friday at Mantenga Cultural Village, open to the public and tourists wishing to witness the Khoisan dance ceremony.
The SAN Bushmen are known for their distinctive language, oral traditions, and ancestral healing knowledge. Their time in Eswatini offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with a culture that has shaped Southern Africa’s heritage for centuries.
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