BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE: ‘Art’ against Abuse
With the recent spike in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) experienced in the Kingdom, students and artists came together to speak against the violence using the only voice they had: art.
The event dubbed Arts Against Abuse took place late last year at Grace School in Manzini, next to the Bosco Skills Centre. Grace School is a private school based in Manzini. When reached for comment Mfanmpela Zwane, who is the art teacher and was also one of the organisers, said, “Our main focus is to discourage all forms of abuse, educate the nation that violence is never a solution, promote peace and dialogue, expose young creatives, and be pioneers of vocational education.”
He went on to say, “On the programme, we had poetry, music, African dances, drama, an art exhibition, motivational speaking, fashion, and comedy, all done against abuse by Grace School students, both primary and high school,” said Zwane.
According to the art teacher, they also had speeches by the police from the Crime Prevention Department in the Manzini region, who talked about rape. The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Social Sciences Department lecturer, Mrs Hlatjwako, talked about peace and dialogue. Among the other speakers of the day was the Expressive Association of Expressive Arts Teachers’ President, Katsoe Zewula, who talked about promoting vocational education and entrepreneurship in schools. Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) had sent a representative to the festival as well.
Zwane shared that he was particularly impressed by the performances of Trevor Desouza, the best young comedian, and Tekhaya Maziya, Queen of Poetry and motivational speaker.
