If you look at your social media feed on March 8th, it’s easy to think that International Women’s Day (IWD) is just about ‘boss babe’ quotes, pink cupcakes and flower emojis. If we peel back the layers of the glitter, we find something much more powerful.
For the young women of Eswatini, IWD is not just a date on the calendar, it’s a global ‘shout-out’ to the progress the country has made and a loud reminder of the work that’s still on the ‘to-do’ list.
To understand why we celebrate it today, we have to look back. IWD wasn’t started by big brands or marketing teams. It was started by working-class women, factory workers and seamstresses in the early 1900s who were tired of working 14-hour days in terrible conditions for half the pay of their male coworkers. They wanted the right to vote, the right to hold office and the right to be treated as human beings in the workplace.
When we celebrate IWD in the kingdom today, we are standing on the shoulders of those women. Whether you are a DJ like Uncle Waffles or a model like Snowee, the freedom to travel the world and own your business exists because women over a century ago decided to stop being quiet.
There is a specific kind of energy in Eswatini right now. If you walk through the malls in Mbabane or scroll through your feed in Manzini, you can feel it.
It is the sound of glass ceilings shattering. For a long time, the world looked at our kingdom as a place of tradition and we are proud of that. But today, a new generation of women is proving that you can carry a traditional lihiya in one hand and a global business contract in the other.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are not just looking at potential, we are looking at power. We’ve picked six women who have moved beyond being local stars. They are chief executive officers (CEOs), international performers and fashion icons who have put Eswatini on the global map. This is their story, and more importantly, it is Eswatini’s story.
UNCLE WAFFLES
The unstoppable force
It’s impossible to talk about the Eswatini takeover without starting with Lungelihle Zwane, known to millions as Uncle Waffles. Her story sounds like a movie script. One minute she was a young creative working in local media; the next, a video of her dancing behind the decks went viral, and the world went mad for it.
But here’s what the viral clips don’t show: the stamina. Waffles didn’t just get lucky. Since that video, she has worked harder than almost anyone in the industry. She has toured the UK, headlined Coachella in the US (a first for any liSwati artist) and became the face of a global campaign for Coca-Cola. What makes her a true icon is her loyalty to her roots. Even when she’s playing for 50 000 people in London, she carries the spirit of the kingdom with her. She proved that a girl from Eswatini doesn’t just belong on the world stage she can own it.
ZEE NXUMALO
The voice of the people
If Waffles is the rhythm, Zee Nxumalo is the melody. Zee has a way of making music that feels like a warm afternoon in the sun. She has navigated the competitive Amapiano and vocal pop scene with incredible grace.
What’s brilliant about Zee is how she uses her voice. She isn’t just singing for the sake of it. Her tracks are the soundtrack to the lives of young people across Southern Africa. She has managed to bridge the gap between being a relatable girl-next-door and a massive superstar. Verified hits and millions of streams later, Zee remains grounded. She’s a reminder that authenticity is the most expensive thing you can own. In a world of faking it, Zee is the real deal.
SYMPHONY
The soulful architect
Symphony (Zanele Cele) is what happens when raw talent meets professional discipline. She is a powerhouse vocalist who has won the Afrimusic Song Contest, but her impact goes deeper than trophies. Symphony represents the ‘artistic’ side of the kingdom. Her music is sophisticated. It fuses Jazz, Soul and Gospel in a way that feels uniquely Swati, but also completely international. She has performed on some of the biggest stages in Africa and Europe, proving that emaSwati artists have the technical skill to compete with anyone, anywhere. She is a mentor to many, showing young girls that you don’t have to change your sound or your values to find success.
ORIIGINELLE
The ‘’queen’’ of the flow
In the male-dominated world of Hip Hop, Oriiginelle didn’t ask for permission to enter, she simply walked in and took over. She is arguably one of the most talented rappers to ever come out of the kingdom.
Her lyrics are sharp, her business mind is sharper, and her presence is undeniable.
She has worked with major brands and appeared on huge platforms like Slikour on Life, which is a massive achievement for any rapper. Oriiginelle represents the ‘hustle’. She shows that being a woman in rap isn’t about being ‘good for a girl’ it’s about being the best, period.
SARNILO THE
Alternative spirit
We have Sarnilo, a musical artist who refuses to be put in a box. In a scene that often leans towards what is trendy, Sarnilo has carved out a space for the alternative, the soulful, and the experimental. Sarnilo’s music is for the thinkers and the dreamers. Her voice carries a weight and a texture that feels timeless. She represents the ‘Creative Freedom’ of the Eswatini Renaissance. By staying true to her specific sound, she has attracted a dedicated following that appreciates art over ‘clout’. She is a vital part of this list because she proves that there is not just one way to be a ‘successful woman’ in entertainment. You can be quiet, you can be deep, and you can be different and the world will still find you.
SNOWEE
The runway revolutionary
Finally, turning our eyes to the world of high fashion, Snowee (Nolwazi Simelane) is currently living the dream that many young girls sketch in the back of their school notebooks. She has transitioned from a local beauty icon to a legitimate international model, taking her striking looks and Swati pride to the world’s most prestigious fashion capitals.
In an industry that can often be cold and exclusionary, Snowee has used her platform to highlight the beauty of Eswatini. Walking for international designers is not just about clothes, it’s about representation.
When Snowee walks a runway in Europe or shoots a campaign for a global brand, she is shattering the stereotype of what an African model ‘should’ look like. She represents the ‘Export of Beauty’. Her success tells every tall, aspiring girl in the Hhohho region that the world isn’t just a place you see on TV, it’s a place where you belong.
When you put these six women together, you don’t just see six different careers. You see a roadmap for the future of Eswatini. These women are the reason why ‘Made in Eswatini’ is becoming a badge of honour.
They are dealing with the same issues young women face everywhere: balancing work and life, fighting for equal pay and dealing with the pressure of social media. They are doing it while carrying the flag of a small, proud nation. This International Women’s Day, we salute them. Not just for the fame, but for the paths they are clearing for the girls who are watching them today, thinking, “If they can do it, so can I.”
We’ve picked women who have moved beyond being local stars.