ANTICIPATION OVER 2023/2024 ARTS BUDGET

MBABANE – As the time draws closer to the announcement of this year’s budget for all government sectors, artists are already anxious.

Those in the arts sector want to know if their budget will increase, just like in the previous year. In what had come as no surprise to some artists, the arts and culture sector’s budget had increased by only E198 580 in 2022. This was as per Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg’s budget speech, which he announced for the 2022/23 financial year. In the previous financial year (2021/22), the arts sector budget stood at E4 291 165. Then the budget allocation increased to E4 489 745. When the budget speech for the 2019/2020 financial year was delivered, the allocation for arts and culture dropped from E4.2 million to E3.3 million. Independent calculations by the Entertainment Desk reflected that this drop was 21.4 per cent. The sector is represented by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC). The council operates under the guidance of the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs.

The ENCAC has affiliates which directly benefit from the tranches of money given to the council by government. These are Eswatini Arts and Music Association (SWAMA), Eswatini National Choral Music Association (ENCMA) and the Association of Christian Artists in Eswatini (ACAESWA) among others. ENCAC’s CEO, Stanley Dlamini is the one to welcome the budget each year and oversees that the money is to be used as effectively as possible.  When asked on what the council would do differently this year after the budget, he mentioned that there would be consultations between ENCAC and affiliated bodies where there would be discussions on how they could best utilise the little that they had. He went on to say that in the past two years, the approach taken by the council was for artists to operate in the digital era (social media) instead of using traditional approaches. He said this helped artists gain exposure and reach international audiences, ultimately positively contributing towards the sector. However, in the previous year, the 4.4 per cent increment had been likened to a drop in the ocean by most industry players who directly and indirectly benefit from the sector.

Increased

Actually the news of the increased budget got mixed views from artists and entrepreneurs in the entertainment space. When it was then reported on, influential players in the space were asked on what they thought on the increment and if they thought there would be a change. Eswatini Events Managers and Promoters Association (EEMPA) Chairman and Swazi Boy Entertainment’s Mthunzi ‘Shadow’ Zwane, registered his dismay towards the budget allocation. Zwane said he thought the arts industry would be a priority for government given that this was the hardest hit sector ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began. He went on to say that given that there was no budget increase, this essentially meant that the sector was not a priority for government. “Personally, I thought that we were going to be a priority to government given the fact that we were the most affected in the economic chain of the country. We were the first ones to be shut down and the last ones to reopen when it came to restrictions. I wish government put more effort towards the budget as we are the most affected,” he said.

Budget

When asked if he thought there would be a change given the slight increase in the budget, Zwane further said it would be a surprise if something changed but he remained positive that the industry would be far better if government considered their plights by finding a lasting solution. “I think what could actually help us is government’s assistance in the recovery. This could be opening up the industry by increasing the numbers for people who are allowed at events,” he said. The sentiments shared by the artists were similar to those from SWAMA President Lutfo Dlamini ,who has mentioned in numerous interviews that the entertainment industry needs to be looked into far more than it has been. In an interview about artists’ cry, over being aided by the arts body, Dlamini said that the Eswatini Government did not see the potential that this industry has and just how much revenue it could generate for the economy.

Frank

Co-founder at Jelele.com and Jelele studios Dr Paul ‘Dr.P’ Tarvis said “to be frank, even if the budget increases or otherwise putting it in the hands of those who have failed dismally in the past years, will yield the same results or lack of.  Before budget is released, they need to enlist and empower people who can actually make things happen and have knowledge, experience and are innovators.’’

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