MBABANE — US Cultural Ambassador Konshens The MC brought his dynamic literary prowess to the Mbabane American Corner today, September 23, hosting ‘Voices of a Nation.’
The United States award-winning Hip-Hop artist and poet brought an engaging session focused on empowering Emaswati through creative writing, rhythm and voice articulation. Konshens invited attendees to explore national identity through sensory writing and poetry, challenging participants to describe Eswatini using the five common senses. Highlighting the sense of taste under the theme ‘The flavour of our culture,’ a prompt asked writers to look beyond the meal: ‘Food tells stories. Think beyond the meal. What traditions, celebrations or memories come with it?’ After responding to the questions the attendees were ordered to put together the lines of their responses to make a poem which they also recorded. Konshens also focuses on educating on recording their voices and podcasts.
In an interview, Konshens explained that the exercise encourages people to observe and articulate elements of national pride in Eswatini through verse. Having hosted a similar workshop in Manzini earlier in the week, the Washington D.C. native is midway through a ten-day visit in the country. His itinerary has included educational outreach at schools such as Little School and Waterford KaMhlaba, where he led sessions on creative writing, conflict resolution, team building and socio-emotional learning.
According to Carly Orman, Public Relations Officer at the US Embassy Eswatini, the nationwide initiative forms part of the United States’ upcoming Freedom 250 anniversary celebrations, highlighting American diplomacy through arts and culture.
The cultural exchange culminates this weekend when Konshens The MC headlines The Elements: A Freedom in Motion, a premier Hip-Hop experience organized by Lution. The showcase takes place on September 26, 2026, at the Eswatini Theatre Club, featuring performances from local heavyweights including Lyrikal Busta, Ace Julz and a diverse lineup of local talent.
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