MBABANE – Young Eswatini performers are set to take centre stage on the international scene as 20 talented learners prepare to feature in ‘IGAZI’.
This is a high-profile theatrical production slated for August 15, 2026, at the Mbombela Civic Centre in South Africa. The initiative is the fruit of a talent scouting exercise spearheaded by renowned South African actress ‘Phindy The Real Queen’, who spent the past few months in Eswatini as an invited guest judge for the Inyatsi Schools Arts and Culture Competition, including its Drama and Theatre segment.
Invited by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC), Phindy worked alongside local officials to scout top youth talent in alignment with ENCAC’s mission to empower the country’s youth through creative skills development.
According to Mandla Shongwe, Vice President of the Eswatini Schools Arts and Culture Association, a total of 20 gifted acting learners were selected during the competition:
1. Swazi National High School: 12 learners
2. Ngomane Primary School: Four learners
3. Other Eswatini Schools: Four learners
“We have reached the learners and got their passport numbers; they shall be leaving on August 14 for South Africa,” Shongwe confirmed.
The play, ‘IGAZI’, will see these young Eswatini actors share the stage alongside prominent South African television and theatre stars, including Sifiso Sibiya, Patrick Mofokeng, Sendzosenkosi Mkhabela, Thulani Mtsweni and Phindy ‘The Real Queen’, among others.
Shongwe expressed enthusiasm about the timing of the trip, noting that because schools will be closed mid-August, the learners’ academic schedules will remain completely uninterrupted.
While logistics are progressing rapidly, Shongwe clarified that official correspondence with government authorities is currently pending. “We are still yet to contact the ministry about the learners who are supposed to leave,” Shongwe stated, noting that a formal letter detailing the trip will be dispatched to the Ministry of Education and Training in due course.
Closing his remarks, Shongwe extended heartfelt appreciation to both ENCAC and Phindy ‘The Real Queen’ for creating a platform that bridges local school talent with professional international stages, giving young emaSwati artists early exposure to the mechanics of the global creative industry.
