Eswatini made history on August 8 as the Nyangu Young Authors Festival opened its doors at Coronation Park.
It was the country’s first national literary festival for children.
Nearly 300 people came. They came to see young authors take the stage.
The festival was built around one big idea. Every child has a story. Every child deserves a voice. Every child deserves to share their story without fear of judgement. The theme for this year’s festival was ‘My Story My Voice’.
Children from more than 20 schools from all the regions of Eswatini took part. Even though some couldn’t attend the festival, their stories were printed and hung in the Hall of Voices.
Parents walked through it slowly. They searched for their own child’s name. Many found it. Many took photos next to it.
The main stage stood at the centre of the park. This is where the real magic happened. Children read their stories out loud. Hundreds of people listened. Some children read for the very first time in front of a crowd.
The day had six competitions. There was a Writing Competition for two age groups. There was a Poetry Slam. There was Live Story Hour for those learners who hadn’t gotten the opportunity to write their stories during the school term. There was a Spelling Bee. There was a Dictionary Dash. Even parents got their own Dictionary Dash category.
By the afternoon, the winners were named. Alwande Mdluli from Seventh Day Adventist Primary in Manzini won the Writing Competition for ages 10 to 12. Uviwe Kunene from Evangelical Primary won the Writing Competition for ages 7 to 9. Alice Chasusa from Good News Primary had the day of her life. She won first place in the Poetry Slam.
Then she won first place in Live Story Hour for ages 10 to 12 too. Two stages. Two wins. One afternoon.
Kai Dunns from Enjabulweni Primary won Live Story Hour for ages 7 to 9. Favour Magagula from Grace Primary School won the Spelling Bee. Faye Motha won the Parents’ Category
Dictionary Dash. Each name was read out loud on the Main Stage. Each child stood tall in front of their school and their family and received prizes.
One school stood above the rest all day. Grace Primary School won the very first Nyangu Literacy Award of the Year. The trophy was decided across eight events on the day itself. Nobody knew the winner until the very end. Grace Primary also took second place in the Poetry Slam and second place in the Writing Competition for ages 7 to 9.
Their trophy now sits at the school. It travels back to Coronation Park next August. Another school will try to win it back.
Nyangu Mushambi is the Co-founder of Nyangu Learning Centre. She built the festival from the ground up. She said the day was never just about competition. “A child who leaves Nyangu reading with confidence doesn’t just read better,” Nyangu said. “They decide they are a reader. That identity is what changes everything that comes after.”
The festival had strong support from the community. Van Schaik Bookstore served as the Official Bookstore Partner. They gave books and dictionaries so every child who competed left with a hamper of their own. Websters Pty Ltd also gave prizes to the first and second winners and Français Alliance gave books to winners as well. Mbabane Council supported the festival as venue partner.
This is only the beginning. School registration for the Nyangu Young Authors Festival 2027 opens on September 1. For more information visit www.nyangulearning.com/festival or follow @nyangulearningcentre.
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