MBABANE – An arts competition spanning all four regions of Eswatini is set to conclude the successful Youth and Women Empowerment (YES) Arts and Culture Exhibition Project, offering a combined prize pool of E3 000 for group winners and E1 500 for individual artists at each regional battle.
The competition marks the final phase of the YES project, an initiative launched in January this year by Arterial Network Swaziland, aimed at strengthening the artistic and cultural expression capacities of women and youth across the kingdom.
The contests pit eight selected tinkhundla centres against one another in a four-stage regional battle, showcasing talent in music, dance, poetry, drama, visual arts and craft.
Maswati Dludlu, the Coordinator of the Project, explained the broader goal behind the initiative. “The purpose of the project is not only to encourage and develop the talent among youth and women in these communities,” she stated, “but also to position the creative sector as the main driver of change in society.”
Dludlu confirmed the project’s specific dedication to inclusion, noting that it is designed to ensure platforms for disadvantaged groups, including persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQI+ community, allowing them to raise their issues and promote awareness of human rights, participation and economic empowerment.
The project’s preparatory phase involved the identification and training of artists at the inkhundla level, followed by local showcases. The forthcoming regional competitions represent the culmination of that work.
“The project aims at availing a platform for women and young people at community and regional levels to express their ideas, priorities and vision through art and cultural activities,” Dludlu added.
The YES Arts and Culture Exhibition Project is made possible through funding from the European Union (EU). The implementation of the project is a partnership effort involving COSPE Eswatini, Gcama Mfati, Luvatsi, Swaziland Rural Women Assembly and Kwakha Indvodza.
Members of the public are invited to attend the competitions, which will begin at 10am at all venues. Artists are expected to convene earlier at 9am for logistical briefings.
For further details, the public may contact Dludlu, the Project Coordinator, on 7670 5343.
A depiction of what went down this past Saturday at Siphocosini, where various artists were gunning for a spot for the much anticipated YES Arts and Culture Exhibition competitions to be held in November, in partnership with the European Union in Eswatini. (Courtesy pic)