IN a historic and inspiring event, the deputy prime minister’s office hosted the nation’s very first Disability Music and Arts Festival on Saturday at The Luke Commission Events Centre.
The landmark festival celebrated the exceptional talents, creativity and resilience of persons with disabilities across the country, marking a pivotal moment for inclusion and cultural expression in Eswatini.
The festival was a vibrant showcase of diverse art forms including music, dance, poetry, drama, fashion, painting and storytelling. Artists with disabilities from all regions broke new ground by boldly presenting their skills on the stage, defying societal pre-conceptions and barriers. The auditorium was transformed into a lively hub of joy, creativity and unity, highlighting the message that disability is not inability. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla lauded the event, emphasising its significance beyond entertainment.
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“The festival shows our nation and the world that disability is not inability. Given the opportunity to express their God-given talents, the sky is truly the limit,” she said. Dladla acknowledged the ministry of sports, culture and youth affairs for their pivotal role in making the festival a reality and proudly declared that Eswatini had broken a world record by hosting such a unique and inclusive event.
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She stated that the festival aligned closely with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 30), embodying a strong commitment to building a more inclusive and creative economy in Eswatini.
DPM Dladla outlined five essential goals underpinning this movement: increasing visibility of artists with disabilities, shifting societal mindsets towards inclusion, enhancing access to economic opportunities, fostering collaboration between disabled and non-disabled creatives and influencing policies that promote accessibility and equity within the cultural sector.
DPM extended appreciation to key sponsors including Unifoods, Hungry Lion, Eswatini Air, Happy Valley, The Luke Commission, AG Thomas, Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula and many more whose support was vital in bringing the vision to life. She further thanked government for ensuring that transportation was provided from all regions, enabling full participation by persons with disabilities nationwide.
In a heartfelt tribute, the DPM recognised Sabelo Matse for his role in amplifying the voices and talents of disabled artists. “If it were not for him, I would not have heard the talent possessed by persons with disabilities,” she said.
“Today, we witnessed talent beyond comprehension.” The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Eswatini, George Wachira praised the DPM, stating that he had never seen such an initiative. “This has become a sacred space. We have witnessed wonderful performances by our brothers and sisters, proving that disability is not an inability,” he said. He further commended Eswatini for leading the way with this one-of-a-kind festival.
He urged the country to continue promoting the inclusion of sign language in the education system.
Additionally, he appealed to engineers to design towns with consideration for persons with disabilities and called on both the private sector and government to provide reasonable accommodations in employment.
Minister for Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini said that his ministry had begun promoting artists across constituencies, paying them and supporting their growth.
He stated that they would support the DPM’s office by affording the chance to people with disabilities to be part of the performing artists during the events they host. He also praised the DPM’s commitment to uplifting vulnerable groups.
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