Local Creatives Shine at Royal Theatre Night in Eswatini

The Royal Theatre Night, held at Ezulwini Palazzo ICC, showcased the best of Eswatini's creative talent. The event, attended by Their Majesties, featured a diverse range of performances, including music, poetry, and comedy. The evening began with a dinner at the convention centre's dining area, followed by the theatre performances. Host Phila 'PHD' Dlamini expertly emceed the event, introducing the various acts.

The first performance was by Sifundzani Primary School's Marimba and Dance group, who played award-winning songs on their Marimba instruments and performed a short skit titled 'A Nation that honours its King honors its future'. The skit depicted characters from the Bible, including Moses and Jesus. Local poet Gcayi Umkhaphelwana also took the stage, reciting a piece that praised His Majesty's reign and his ability to maintain peace in the country.

The Sound Kitchen group performed a traditional ensemble, sitting on a traditional mat with firewood and a pot throughout their rendition. Bheki and Ncaba shared ancient stories from their forefathers, giving attendees insight into traditional Swati stories, 'Tinganekwane'. The musical performances that followed featured some of Eswatini's top artists, including Thobile Makhoyane, who stunned the audience with her chants.

Eswatini's 'Golden exports', Sands and Qibho, performed a beautiful piece of music, with Sands getting the crowd on their feet with his fan-favourite 'Tigi'. Local trio Siyinqaba reunited for the event, taking the audience back to the past with their anthem 'Gwayimane', which received a warm response from the attendees.

A local ensemble from Floewe, comprising Michelle, Zamo, Linda Dlamini, KrTC, and Bholoja, shut down the musical performances with their 40th-anniversary ensemble. The night also featured a play that included poetry from Qibho, Beezae, and South African musician Nokwazi's vocals, which shared His Majesty's journey from birth to ascending to the throne.

The play highlighted some of the significant developments achieved by His Majesty during his 40 years on the throne. Comedians Gogo and S'lwane brought the house down with their jokes, sharing hilarious moments, including a skit about the GPS having an assistant in siSwati. The comedians also poked fun at the ICC menu's possible language barriers and His Majesty's 'Chicken, 'kwek kwek' sound at the recent UNESWA graduation ceremony.

The evening concluded with international musicians imitators, including Michael Jackson and Beyoncé. His Majesty took pictures with the creatives who performed, having light conversations and jokingly attempting to do the 'Ibambe' routine dance. The event celebrated Eswatini's rich creative talent, showcasing the country's vibrant music, poetry, and comedy scene.

Key points

• Local creatives in Eswatini took center stage at the Royal Theatre Night, showcasing their talents in music, poetry, and comedy.