BY BANELE MAGONGO
MBABANE – Mbabane Central High School and Woodlands High School emerged victorious at the culture competition held in Prince of Wales Sports Ground, Mbabane today.
The second leg of the Mbabane Schools Culture Competition saw 12 high schools compete in three categories, Sibhaca, Ummiso, and Ingadla. Mbabane Central High School won first place in both the Sibhaca and Ingadla categories, while Woodlands High School took home the top prize for the Ummiso category.
During the Mbabane Schools Culture Competition, Mbabane Mayor Vusi Tembe highlighted the city’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage, noting that Mbabane is a leading example in this regard. The mayor further revealed that the city had sponsored a similar competition for primary schools, which had seen over 1 000 pupils from 12 different primary schools participate.
Tembe expressed his concern about the potential for the younger generation to lose touch with their cultural heritage, and stated that the city’s sponsorship of such events was a means to prevent this from happening.
Representative of the Hhohho Reginal Education Officer (REO) Nomfundo Makhathini commended the Municipal Council of Mbabane for their sponsorship of the Schools Culture Competition.
She explained that the competition was an effective means of supporting the SiSwati curriculum, as the performances of the students directly reflected what they were being taught in school. Makhathini emphasised the importance of these events in reinforcing cultural education and enhancing the relevance of the curriculum in the lives of the students.
Makhathini made it clear that poetry was not overlooked in the SiSwati curriculum, and that students were being taught the art of writing and reciting poems. She emphasised that by nurturing the students’ poetic skills, the schools were enabling them to potentially pursue poetry as a career path. Makhathini believed that this focus on poetry would not only enhance the students’ cultural understanding but also provide them with valuable communication and creative expression skills for the future.
