MBABANE – Eswatini’s heritage is currently on display in Haryana, India, as a 10-member cultural troupe begins its performances at the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela.
The group, following its departure from Eswatini on January 28, is representing the nation at one of the world’s largest congregations of heritage and traditional arts in India. The troupe is scheduled to continue its daily performances and cultural exchanges through February 15, 2026, showcasing traditional Eswatini attire, music and dance to a global audience.
In an interview with Nokuthula Dlamini, the head of the delegation, she mentioned that they arrived safely in India. “We have performed and people here really enjoyed our performance, especially the African countries here,” she said.
The delegation was officially commissioned on January 26, 2026 during a formal send-off ceremony held at the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs offices in Mbabane. During the event, Minister Bongani Nzima presented the national flag to the troupe, designating them as cultural ambassadors.
The minister’s charge focused on the troupe’s role in maintaining the kingdom’s international reputation for excellence in the arts and respect. He noted that the delegation carries the identity of the Eswatini people and urged them to demonstrate the peaceful nature of the nation through their performances.
The selection of the 10 members was conducted by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) based on merit from national culture competitions. The group includes specialists from regional arts centres across the four regions of the kingdom.
The group includes Sphiwo ‘Ndoni’ Ndlangamandla, a Gospel artist recently recognised at the Mpumalanga Gospel Music Awards for Best Song of the Year for his track, ‘Insindiso Iyangisebenzela’. The delegation further comprises three sibhaca dancers, three ingadla dancers and three Lutsango members.
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela attracts over a million visitors annually. This year’s festival features Egypt as the Partner Nation. Eswatini’s participation marks the fourth consecutive year the kingdom has been invited to this platform.
According to Sriram, the Second Secretary from the Indian High Commission who attended the send-off, the invitation stems from the high benchmark set by previous Eswatini delegations.
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