MBABANE – A contingent of local artists and performers is set to cross the border to showcase Eswatini’s talent in South Africa.
Five additional local artists alongside dance champions have been unveiled to perform alongside artist Cool Drop at the upcoming Rise Mpumalanga All Celebration. Hosted in Mbombela on November 7, the event is organised by South African media personality and artist Phindile Mashobane, widely recognised as Phindy The Real Queen.
The newly-announced line-up features a diverse mix of talent, including Sethu Magagula, Ntando, Hapkoo, MTN Bushfire Firefly winner 2025, Cy Ndukwemnyama, fresh from his Lesotho headlining event for the Global Creative Summit and Chawelesizwe.
Joining these vocalists and performers is the Manzini-based dance group ‘Beyond Limits’, who earned their spot on the roster after securing a victory at the recent Eswatini International Trade Fair Dance Competition and impressed Phindy The Real Queen.
Together with Cool Drop, who was formally unveiled by Phindy The Real Queen through a shared poster, this delegation represents a dynamic cross-section of Eswatini’s creative industry heading to South Africa.
The artists will bring Soulful, Swati music and dance moves to the Mbombela stage.
The background of these local acts reaching international platforms is rooted in a formal partnership. Phindy The Real Queen holds a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC). A central objective of this agreement is to create accessible pathways for local Eswatini artists to showcase their craft in neighbouring South Africa.
Phindy’s commitment to scouting local talent was evident earlier this year when she visited Eswatini during the Inyatsi Schools Arts and Culture competition to identify promising performers.
Phindy The Real Queen promised during her visit to take some dancers to her show in November, and she has kept to that promise as the delegation will be travelling to Mbombela.
At the Mbombela celebration, Eswatini’s acts will share the stage with prominent South African stars, including Thobani Nzuza, Harry Canes, Psychonic and Phindy The Real Queen herself.
This collaborative festival highlights the power of cross-border partnerships in providing artists with regional exposure and fostering long-term professional growth across Southern Africa.
