UPS CELEBRATES BEAUTY OF ESWATINI CULTURE

BIG BEND – ‘Let’s go back to our roots’. That was the theme of this year’s edition of the annual culture day celebrations at Ubombo Primary School (UPS), a prestigious private school in Big Bend.

The colourful event, which was attended by hundreds of people, including parents of pupils and businesspeople from around Big Bend area, was held at the school last Thursday.

The main purpose of the event is to celebrate Eswatini culture and to encourage pupils to embrace Eswatini traditions and customs.
Each and every pupil at the multi-racial school was accorded a chance to perform for the audience, and the performances ranged from poems, plays and traditional dances (Sibhaca and Ummiso).

In addition, some pupils spiced up the event with rib-cracking comedy delivered in vernacular and other entertainment items, including the mimicking of the hosts of popular radio show Khalam’dumbadumbane.

It was the amazingly talented Quinton Koster who stole the show with his awesome Sibhaca dance routine, and almost the entire audience ululated when he took to the front. Then came Tyla Fourie, who wowed the crowd with a powerful poem titled ‘Chakaza Mbali’.
Her eloquence, composure and confidence left the crowd yearning for more.

Comic

Two other talented performers, Siviwe and Muhle, delivered a captivating comic play.
Belinda Groening, a teacher at the school, who was also the programme director, commended all pupils for the performances.
She also thanked SiSwati teacher Phetsile Shabangu, who despite fracturing her leg, continued to work with pupils in rehearsals for the event. Meanwhile, the school Head teacher, Ella Magongo, said the culture day had become an annual event.

“We are happy that the event has grown to such an extent that it is now attracting interest from the community and we appreciate the support from all the parents,” said Magongo.

When asked how they were able to teach traditional dances, songs and poems to non-SiSwati speaking pupils, since UPS is a multi-racial school, Magongo said all pupils at the school were interested to learn Eswatini culture.

“SiSwati is a mother tongue for most of the pupils at the school and the language is taught at the school despite that we are an English-medium school, hence there is no difficulty in teaching pupils the local culture,” she said.

The event was graced by Ubombo Sugar Managing Director (MD) Oswald Magwenzi and Human Resources Manager Bongani Ndwandwe.
UPS is owned by Ubombo Sugar Limited.

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