Times Of Swaziland: ROBBEN ISLAND SCHOOLS FEST: ESWATINI NUMBER FOUR OUT OF NINE COMPETITORS

ROBBEN ISLAND SCHOOLS FEST: ESWATINI NUMBER FOUR OUT OF NINE COMPETITORS
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Mxolisi Dlamini on 01/10/2024 16:20:00


MBABANE – Eswatini took fourth position at the recent Robben Island Schools
Festival, where the kingdom was represented by five pupils.
The five pupils, Mnelisi Mkhabela from Elangeni High School, Asande Mkhonta from
Ekukhanyeni High School, Smilwesihle Dlamini from Manzini Nazarene High School,
Sibahle Shongwe from Moyeni High School and Billy Matsenjwa from Vulamasango
High School got the opportunity to represent the country at the festival. This
after their outstanding performances during this year’s Inyatsi Schools Arts
and Culture Competition.
Position
The students left the country for South Africa (SA) last month on September 20
and they have now returned having attained the fourth position in the
competition which was hosted by the rainbow nation, popularly known as South
Africa. This was revealed by Inyatsi Schools Arts and Culture Competition Vice
President Mandla Shongwe who accompanied the pupils to SA. “We had a good
trip, as there were no problems faced at all, while we were in South Africa.
After our arrival, the pupils were given pre-tasks, which were mainly about
traditional food, traditional attires from different cultures and cultural
performances. They were further trained on different courses, mainly from
agriculture, information technology (IT), broadcasting, computer science and
creative writing,” Shongwe said.
He further revealed some of the things which the pupils brought back home.
“They came back with certificates and they took position four at the festival.
The position was based on overall traditional food presentation, cultural
dresses presentation, cultural songs and dance presentation,” he said. Worth
mentioning, Inyatsi Group who are the proud sponsors of the schools arts and
culture competition, bid farewell to the pupils with a sponsorship of E20 000,
at the Ministry of Education and Training, before leaving for SA.
Alongside
This was done alongside the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture
(ENCAC), who bought flight tickets for the pupils amounting to E53 600. Inyatsi
Group was represented by Gcinile Nxumalo, who announced the E20 000 sponsorship,
citing they were excited to have participated at this year’s edition of the
competition. “As the pupils are set to represent the kingdom in Cape Town, as
Inyatsi Group, we will be sponsoring their trip with E20 000. We were happy to
have played a role in supporting these young people as they prepared for their
trip. This sponsorship catered for their allowances, toiletries, track suits, as
well as sneakers, which they will wear during the trip,” Nxumalo said.
Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) were represented by
Thembekile Dlamini.