MANZINI — Ngwane Teachers College set aside textbooks on Thursday to celebrate Culture Day, hosting students and staff in a showcase of Eswatini’s rich cultural heritage. The event was held in partnership with the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture and carried the theme “Lulwimi lwetfu lisiko letfu” (Our language, our culture).
The celebration focused on the role of language in preserving cultural identity, aligning with the Eswatini National Arts and Culture Policy, which promotes literary arts and interventions to strengthen the SiSwati language.
The event drew support from several community partners, including FNB, Ngwane Supermarket, Nsingizini Football Club, H.M Stationery, T-Junction Filling Station, Nhlangano Meat Wholesalers, Boxer Supermarket, Tfokotani Butchery, Vat Vat Wine & Malt, Thubelihle Fruits and Vegetables, Izigi Zendoda Investments, Lusoti Filling Station, Siphepho Investments and Mphisi Meat. Students Sinethemba Nhlabatsi and Mlondi Sibandze served as MCs, keeping the audience engaged throughout the day.
The programme began with a solemn prayer, after which Ngwane Teachers College Vice Principal Dr Simon Dlamini welcomed guests. “We are thankful to the Eswatini National Arts and Culture Council for their ongoing support of arts and culture initiatives in the kingdom. Their commitment is evident, especially considering their recent delegation to India to showcase our culture. Ngwane Teachers College Culture Day is yet another testament to our dedication to promoting arts within the kingdom,” he said.
ENCAC Chief Executive Officer Stanley Dlamini commended the college for nurturing cultural awareness among future educators. “Hosting a Culture Day at Ngwane is significant because the college is shaping young people who will become educators tomorrow. It is crucial that these future teachers are imbued with the cultural values of our nation,” he said, recalling the college’s previous cultural showcases before His Majesty. He added that celebrating the mother tongue in February adds special significance to the event.
Dlamini also noted the unifying role of traditional language. “Our traditional language reduces conflicts. Many nations are currently embroiled in disputes rooted in misunderstandings caused by language barriers. Cultural events like this foster unity and mutual understanding,” he said, praising students for wearing traditional regalia without prompting.
The day featured performances from the Ngwane College SCM Choir, combining choral harmonies with contemporary dance, alongside traditional SiBhaca and Ingadla dances. A highlight was a Umtsimba ceremony demonstration led by students trained by Thembekile Dlamini, offering spectators an educational view of Eswatini’s traditional rituals.
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