BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – End Violence towards all women.
This is one of the principles of One Billion Rising, which will host a festival on Saturday at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre. Entry to the festival is free.
The theme this year is ‘RISE! ‘Be the New World—End Violence Against ALL Women.”
About 18 artists in Eswatini this year have joined the One Billion Rising festival on ending violence. These artists include prominent artists, namely: Sands, Nomalungelo, Nothando Shabangu Dlamini, Velemseni, DJ MixMash, Bishop Gcina Masuku, Lution, Bishop Motsa, The Silent Writer, and KrTC. Others include Hosea’s Heart Girls, Emhlangani Girls Club, four groups of cultural dancers from the community circles, poets, and many more upcoming artists. Thamsanqa Sibandze, KrTC, will be the director of the festival.
This was confirmed by One Billion Rising Africa Regional Coordinator Colani Hlatjwako, who shared with this publication that they have continuous grassroots engagement through the established community circles to end gender-based violence (GBV).
She said, “In Eswatini, GBV is a persistent challenge. Based on the engagement with communities through the community circles on ending GBV that have been established by One Billion Rising and some supported by the MTN Foundation, there is a dire need that GBV be understood as a life-threatening protection issue that needs to be taken into account and prioritised by everyone.”
She added, “It is based on this background that we bring strong actions to address the scourge of GBV in Eswatini through art by hosting the annual festival on ending GBV. Our actions for the One Billion Rising campaign are in line with the new government’s national strategy for ending violence. Since this is an annual event, every year will come with its own theme,” said Hlatjwako.
The festival is a day-long event that will kick off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival aims to call to action for everyone that GBV is a life-threatening issue. The heart of the festival lies in the rising through art segment, which showcases various artistic expressions such as dance, music, poetry, and visual arts. The programme also emphasises collective imagination, envisioning a new Eswatini without violence. Workshops, discussions, and a planting ceremony symbolise growth, renewal, and community engagement.
The theme this year is that the world is in turmoil. Wars, poverty, oppression, destruction, and sustained violent eradications of freedom continue and are aggravated in the contexts of gender, race, environmental issues, youth, indigenous rights, and workers’ rights. Eswatini has not been spared as the country continues to grapple with multiple socio-economic and political challenges. Among the most urgent is the escalation in levels of violence against women.
Since 2013, the One Billion Rising Campaign has been holding “Rising” celebrations all over the world. For the past 10 years, based on an annual theme, activists across the globe have localised the call to RISE FOR FREEDOM with self-determined and specific regional, national, and community-based issues. Last year, the festival was held at the same venue on February 23.
The organisation will fundraise for Hosea’s Heart, Autism Eswatini, and the Eswatini Epilepsy Organisation. It will also use the rising festival to fundraise for the three organisations that are focusing on the most vulnerable groups. These organisations are Hosea’s Heart, Autism Eswatini, and Eswatini Epilepsy. The public is invited to come with donations for these organizations. It can be sanitary pads, disposables, clothing, food, or money. There will be pledging forms available in their stalls the whole day.
One Billion Rising The Eswatini Rising Festival has adopted the following principles:
End Violence Towards All Women
Cultivate, care, trust, and share.
Celebrate Diversity
Practice Solidarity
Place love in the centre.
End violence towards the earth.
Embody the power of art.
Leave no one behind.
