Women’s experiences found expression through spoken word and music when poetess Dzelisile ‘Dzeli’ Mdluli staged Women Why Whine, a one-woman performance at the Eswatini Theatre Club.
The performance followed a girl’s journey into womanhood, drawing on moments that shape women’s lives. Through personal stories and poetry, Dzeli brought subjects often kept quiet into the open, encouraging the audience to reflect.
The show moved between poetry and music, with songs adding emotion.
One striking moment came when Dzeli explored relationships and challenges women face, including abuse. The subject prompted audience members to share testimonies and offer support, turning the performance into a space for discussion.
Dzeli described the production as a conversation, confrontation and celebration of women in all their complexity. She said it looked at the pain, love, silence, struggles and strength of womanhood, while recognising the freedom that comes with finding one’s voice.
Rather than presenting poetry as entertainment alone, the production encouraged people to think about experiences hidden in homes and relationships.
The stories highlighted how women move through difficult moments, build resilience and find courage to speak.
Audience responses showed the value of a space where experiences can be heard and shared without judgement. Dzeli explained that the show was designed to encourage conversations about issues often left unspoken.
“Every voice has a story,” she said, stressing the need to listen when women speak about their lives.
She added that the performance placed women’s experiences at centre stage, allowing their stories to be recognised.
Women Why Whine has been selected for the Culture Spaces Context programme and is funded by the Austrian Embassy in collaboration with the Eswatini Theatre Club. “This is not just poetry,” Dzeli noted, describing the production as a way to create space for women’s stories.
The partnership supports artistic work exploring personal and social experiences through performance. The production brings together poetry, music and reflection to examine identity, survival and self-expression.
By sharing stories of hurt, strength and change, Dzeli invited audiences to consider how women’s experiences shape their lives and why they deserve attention.
She stated that the show celebrates speaking out, making room for women to express themselves and for others to hear them.
