Mbabane – The Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stanley Dlamini, has confirmed that the National Gospel Awards will proceed as planned, despite an ongoing legal challenge.
This follows legal action taken by the Association of Christian Artists of Eswatini (ACAESWA), which has filed an urgent court application appealing against being illegally banned from involvement in the awards.
According to a certificate of urgency in possession of this publication, ENCAC has been interdicted from rolling out any plans concerning the upcoming awards prior to consultation or involvement of ACAESWA.
When questioned by this publication about whether the awards would continue following the legal challenge, Dlamini was unequivocal.
“Yes, the awards will go ahead,” he said.
Dlamini further revealed that ENCAC will host a press conference later this week to provide updates following recent court proceedings.
“We will have a press conference this week to clarify the court matter,” he said.
The Eswatini National Gospel Music Awards are officially scheduled to illuminate the industry on November 29, 2025.
The night will begin with a Grand Entrance at 4:00 p.m., followed by a red-carpet affair. The Gospel Power Hour will run from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., leading up to the main event, which goes live at 8:00 p.m.
The ceremony will be attended by the who’s who of the local gospel industry, including celebrities, influencers, and nominated artists. A total of 27 winners will be crowned across various categories, alongside five prestigious Honorary Awards—including the Minister’s Award, the Chairperson’s Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The CEO emphasised ENCAC’s mandate to promote all artistic disciplines.
“This major event will be a highlight of what our industry looks like. It’s part of the council’s mission to ensure that all disciplines are promoted and given a stage to shine,” said Dlamini.
The awards are expected to gain regional visibility, having secured partnerships with leading South African gospel media houses, including One Gospel and Soweto TV, along with robust coverage from local television and radio channels
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