US Embassy funds four creatives

THE US Embassy in Eswatini, with Eswatini Theatre Club, has announced four Freedom250 recipients under the America 250 initiative marking 250 years of US independence.

The four beneficiaries are Kate Jones-Mamba, Welcome Mavoka, Siyethemba ‘Siye’ Dlamini, and Mzwandile ‘Lution’ Nxumalo, representing disciplines ranging from theatre and dance to music and multimedia storytelling.

The programme builds on a previously announced call inviting local creatives to develop performances and events inspired by American arts and culture, while also strengthening arts entrepreneurship and community engagement.

Each selected project receives E7 400 in funding, alongside rehearsal and performance space at the Eswatini Theatre Club, as well as technical support in sound and lighting.

Recipients are also expected to host youth-focused sessions at American Corner centres in Mbabane, Manzini or Nhlangano.

Jones-Mamba is an educator, creative producer and storyteller working across the United Kingdom, South Africa and Eswatini, with extensive theatre production experience and a growing body of writing on family life as she develops her debut novel.

Mavoka is a choreographer and founder of Beyond Limits, known for advancing dance professionalisation, with international performance experience across Russia, Abu Dhabi, Senegal, South Africa and Mozambique.

Dlamini, founder of Coyi Theatre, works across theatre, podcasting and visual storytelling, developing African narratives through performance, writing and mentorship.

Nxumalo is a multidisciplinary artist working in music and media, blending hip-hop and Afrocentric influences with sound engineering and performance practice.

Speaking during the earlier launch of the initiative, US Embassy Public Affairs Officer Carly Van Orman said the programme was designed to strengthen arts entrepreneurship in the country.

“We hope this initiative will expand the pool of individuals who think of themselves as arts managers, who bridge the gap between talent and business,” she said.

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Van Orman added that while the country had no shortage of artistic talent, many creatives lack access to project management, marketing and accounting skills needed to build sustainable opportunities.

“Eswatini has no shortage of artists, but many do not yet see themselves as entrepreneurs or possess the skills needed to create opportunities for themselves and others,” she said.

She also noted that “the creative economy is growing,” highlighting the importance of supporting institutions like the Eswatini Theatre Club in building long-term cultural infrastructure.

Eswatini Theatre Club Vice Chairperson Sizo Hlophe welcomed the announcement, stating that it reflected a wider need to increase structured opportunities for artists in the country.

“For us as the Theatre Club, this speaks to the lack of opportunities in the country. We appreciate the support that is coming in because our sector does not often receive this kind of structured development,” he said.

Hlophe stated that similar initiatives have shown how external support could help strengthen local creativity.

“This is one way to provide opportunities similar to other forms of support we have seen before.

“We are happy that more opportunities are opening up because local artists often do not get the chance to develop projects in a supported format. When artists are not supported, creativity becomes limited. Now we hope these activities will help fill that gap, especially in Mbabane where weekends often lack cultural events,” he said.

Hlophe added that the Theatre Club aimed to position itself as a consistent platform for artists to showcase their work and develop sustainable creative practice through structured support and public programming.