WE LOOK DOWN UPON EACH OTHER – SOME CREATIVES

Mbabane – The debate concerning whether we have celebrities in the country or not is heating up, with industry followers sharing their various insights.
To address the matter, we engaged some of the creatives from the kingdom to weigh in on whether we have celebrities in Eswatini. Before getting to their submissions, we would like to first define a celebrity. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, a celebrity is a person who is famous or the state of being famous. The word can also be used to describe a person who has earned infamy, renown or scandal. A number of emaSwati were spotted on social media claiming we do not have celebrities in the kingdom. Some creatives were kind enough to share their thoughts. Let’s hear what they had to say.

Gospel Musician Gcebile Maseko:
“Yes, we do have celebrities in the kingdom. I can name a handful of them. According to the dictionary, a celebrity is someone who is famous, especially in areas of entertainment such as film, media, music, writing or sports. However, it doesn’t indicate the duration of such fame. They can attain celebrity status overnight or after 10 years of hard work. The word ‘celebrity’ means the state of being celebrated. Are you celebrating someone in the country, especially in the area of entertainment; that is music, media, sports, writing, film, etc.? Then that’s your celebrity.”

Miss Teen Director Penelope Maziya:
“A celebrity is a person who is well-known and admired by many people. Celebrities are often in the entertainment industry, sports or politics. They are often the subject of public attention and media coverage. So according to me, yes, we do have celebrities, it’s just that we always look down upon each other instead of helping each other to grow.”

Top Models Eswatini (TME) Director Mbalenhle Manana:  
“I can say we do have celebrities here in Eswatini. According to my understanding, a celebrity is a famous person; a state of widely known, discussed, publicly esteemed, celebrated for their good work. Public individuals who catch media attention through the roles they play in their field could be musicians, models, DJs and more. It’s just that it’s nice and acceptable once those individuals are worth a price or so much, or have got money, living large, driving flashy cars, owning properties, as well as private jets. Here in Eswatini, we don’t have that type of celebrity; we only have celebrities on paper.”

The diverse perspectives from these creatives illustrate the complexity surrounding the notion of celebrity in Eswatini. While some assert that we indeed have individuals celebrated for their contributions, others highlight the challenges faced by these personalities in gaining recognition at both the national and international levels. The notion of what it means to be a celebrity continues to evolve, especially with the influence of social media, which allows previously unknown talents to gain fame rapidly.
As this conversation continues, it is essential for the creative community in Eswatini to support one another and elevate those who are making strides in their respective fields. Celebrating our homegrown talents could foster a richer cultural landscape and amplify the voices of those who deserve recognition, ultimately building a more vibrant entertainment scene that resonates both locally and beyond.

Musician Notik:
“Personally, I’d love and appreciate the opportunity to start defining or explaining the term ‘celebrity’. Celebrities are individuals who have gained widespread recognition and fame, often due to their talents, achievements or high-profile activities. They can come from various fields, such as entertainment, sports, politics and social media (influencers). Coming back to the question: Do we have celebrities in the country? My answer is a big ‘yes’ because we do have individuals with the qualities of being a celeb.”

MC Nqaba:
“Yes, we definitely do have celebrities in Eswatini, especially in the Gospel category. Our Gospel artists are very big in Africa; it’s just that they are less recognised because they are not into other genres such as house music and other genres.”

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