Ministry to host regional festivals

MBABANE – The Minister for Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima, revealed to senators last Friday that they will be hosting regional festivals next year.

This was during the Ministry’s Senate Portfolio Committee’s budget debate. Two weeks back, the ministry revealed that they have already reserved E3 million for the procurement of equipment for studio and mobile stage. “Whenever organisers host festivals in the country, they are set back by renting the equipment needed for the festivals and make no profits. After securing equipment I believe that everything will now be easy for our creatives to profit from their events,” he said.

The minister also added that this will be beneficial throughout the kingdom.” I believe that festivals will no longer be limited to the Manzini-Mbabane corridor, but we shall be able to move to the other regions as well,” added the minister.

During the seating, Nzima highlighted to senators that the studio has begun working and is open for every liSwati, commending that everything that the ministry is doing together with Arts and Culture, will be beneficial for local musicians as the costs are very budget-friendly. The studio is also inclusive as it has also assisted some artists with disabilities to record.When it comes to preserving some of the country’s music and heritage, the minister revealed that they have also have trained some creatives on how to play the Makhoyane. “ In our studio, we are also able to preserve some of the country’s beautiful history, specifically through the Makhoyane.

This beautiful instrument in the kingdom can only be used by the elderly, but because we want its legacy to live on, we were able to gather some of the elderly to pass on the knowledge to the younger generation and they are now able to play it.

We recorded some of these sessions so that we always have it as it is one of the country’s pride,” he said.  By providing equipment at rates lower than commercial prices, the ministry aims to reduce overheads for artists.

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