BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MANZINI – Yesterday saw the crowning of Eswatini Miss Cultural Heritage and four regional ambassadors for 2023–2024.
The beauty pageant was held at the George Hotel. The queen is Melinda Mavuso.
The regional ambassadors who were crowned are:
Shiselweni region: Lethukuthula Matsebula.
Lubombo region: Luyanda Ndlela
Manzini region: Nowethu Motsa
Hhohho region: Yandiswa Magagula.
Eswatini Positive News had the privilege of speaking to these five dynamic ladies, and here is what they had to say about culture and their new roles as the ambassadors of culture:
Miss Cultural Heritage Melinda’Mely’ Mavuso (20) Manzini Region
I joined the pageant because I knew it was a great platform for me to fully embrace and acknowledge the beauty that the unique Swati culture possesses.
To me, culture is an umbrella term that involves the customs, arts, history, and achievements of a particular nation. I feel young people should make it a norm to participate in national events because it is the most accessible way for them to uphold their culture. It shouldn’t be about them attending national events to only snap pictures for social media, but it should be beneficial.
When my name was called out, I was literally shocked. I don’t want to lie. I even shed tears of joy at the same time.
I have a vision for my reign, but the key thing for me is to focus on children and young people like me. I plan on visiting carepoints for primary, secondary, and tertiary-level education with the help of the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health, and SWAAGA, which is responsible for gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. I want to leave a mark.
Lethukuthula Temfundvo Matsebula (19), Shiselweni Region
I joined the pageant because I would like to know more about it and have a deeper understanding of it. My culture is my pride; it’s a definition of who I truly am.
I think young people should visit cultural sites and participate in cultural events; this will enable them to be proud Swati individuals who can represent the country without doubt.
When my name was called out, I was honestly shocked, and I wasn’t sure if I heard the right name.
As an ambassador of culture, I will visit schools and orphanages to educate my peers about our Swati culture. This will give them a better understanding of their culture, which will help young people even in their academics, especially in Siswati.
I will also organise competitions with the help of the Arts and Culture Council, where the school that appreciates our culture best will win a certain prize. This will encourage young people to learn more about our beautiful Swati culture.
Luyanda Ndlela (19), Lubombo Region
I joined Miss Cultural Heritage Eswatini because I love my culture. I wanted to learn more about it, and this pageant was just the perfect platform.
My culture is my identity and pride. Given the chance to choose again, I would still choose to be Liswati. Young people should engage in cultural ceremonies; young girls should attend Umhlanga; and boys should attend Lusekwane. A wise man once said that for you to know where you’re going, you need to know where you’re coming from. So by attending these ceremonies, they get to know more about their roots and cultural heritage.
When my name was called out, I was overwhelmed. I felt very happy because I had come so far and had been working so far.
As an ambassador of culture, I will teach the youth how to kuvunula kekugidza (loosley translated to how to clad the traditional attire and how to do the cultural dance), just as I was taught at the Miss Cultural Heritage Eswatini Boot Camp. I believe in sharing knowledge and experiences.
Nowethu Motsa (20), Manzini Region
I joined the pageant because I want to showcase my culture and heritage, as some people don’t know much about their culture, which is what defines who we really are and can easily be lost if it’s not actively preserved.
For me, culture is a complex and multifaceted concept; it is about the shared values, beliefs, traditions, and ways of life of a group of people. It’s about the connections that people share with each other and how they express their identities through language, art, music, food, and other forms of expression.
Culture is also about the way that people understand and interact with the world around them and how they connect to the past and their heritage. It’s what makes each person and each place unique.
Young people can play a key role in upholding their culture and passing it on to future generations. One way is to learn about and participate in the traditions of their culture, such as food, music, language, and art. They can also pass on stories and memories about their culture to others and share their experiences of living in that culture with those who are not part of it. It’s also important for young people to respect and celebrate the diversity of cultures around the world and to be open to learning from and interacting with people from other cultures.
When my name was called out, I was so delighted. It was a very beautiful moment. I couldn’t believe myself that I’d made it this far. And I can’t wait to showcase and promote my culture in my region, and I promise to respect them.
As an ambassador of culture, I will go around schools in my region, teaching about our culture and its importance. I will encourage young girls to attend the Umhlanga ceremony by teaching them about its importance, as it is not just a ceremony but a way of protecting us as girls as well.
Yandiswa Yolanda Magagula (18) Hhohho Region
I joined the pageant to learn more about our culture and traditions so that I might be able to embrace it with pride.
Culture, for me, means a way of life, especially the customs and beliefs of a particular person.
I feel young people should attend cultural ceremonies hosted in the country to learn more about our Swati culture. In that way, they will embrace it with pride.
When my name was called out, I felt amazed but proud of myself for all the effort and dedication I’ve put into this whole competition.
As an ambassador of culture in my region, I will attend the school’s culture day to educate young people on the importance of knowing your culture and embracing it, as this is our unique pride as the Swati people. Our culture shouldn’t die in our hands, but we must preserve it for future generations.
