Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
ZIMBABWEAN cultural expert Allington Ndlovu took centre stage as more than 600 pupils from over 42 schools across Eswatini gathered at the famous House on Fire venue on Thursday for the lively opening of the 2026 EU Bushfire Schools Festival.
Under his guidance, the venue quickly transformed into a vibrant celebration of youth creativity, with an electric atmosphere filled with music, dance, poetry, drama and storytelling. Young people took ownership of the stage, showing confidence, imagination and a strong sense of identity.
Ndlovu, a respected heritage custodian and executive director of the Amagugu International Heritage Centre (AIHC), led this year’s schools showcase, giving it a strong regional flavour.
His interactive approach encouraged learners to think deeply about culture, Africa and their place in shaping the future.
He was invited to Eswatini as part of the Goethe-Institut’s ongoing Entanglements workshop series, where his role was to guide young people as they explored their ideas through creative expression.
The schools festival, held under the theme “Art in Action: Future in the Making,” is the traditional opening event for the main MTN Bushfire festival. It sets the tone by placing young voices firmly at the heart of the experience.
Through a partnership between MTN Bushfire and the European Union, the venue became a lively hub of performances, all driven by the energy and imagination of local learners.
Delivering the keynote address, Eswatini’s Minister of Education and Training, Honourable Owen Nxumalo, praised the learners for embracing their creativity and confidence.
“Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, you are active contributors today. Your voice, your creativity, and your participation matter,” Nxumalo told the fired-up crowd.
Ndlovu’s participation forms part of a wider cultural programme being run by the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg across Southern Africa.
The Entanglements Workshop is taking place in several SADC countries, including Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia.
The initiative works with “Heritage Narratives” grantees, encouraging them to rethink and present African history in fresh, modern ways while building new opportunities for artistic collaboration across borders.
Speaking on how he became involved, Ndlovu said:
“I attended the Zimbabwean leg of the workshop, which launched at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare. Following that, I received an invite to join the Goethe-Institut team here in Eswatini, where I was tasked with facilitating the interactive schools festival.”
For Ndlovu, the experience went beyond a simple workshop. It was about unlocking creativity and giving young people the confidence to tell their own stories.
He challenged learners to imagine Africa in their own way and express that vision through art and writing.
“I accorded them a chance to create their own African story based on what they think Africa is and their imagined African future. The result was a beautiful array of artworks and texts produced by learners from various schools. The schools festival was a phenomenal official opening to the globally renowned Bushfire circuit,” Ndlovu said.
After the schools festival, Ndlovu stayed on to attend the main MTN Bushfire event, taking in the rich cultural mix that has made the festival famous around the world.
The success of the schools festival has already set the stage for the main MTN Bushfire event, which runs at House on Fire from May 29 to 31.
Now in its 19th edition, the internationally recognised festival is expected to attract more than 23 000 people from over 55 countries, making it one of the region’s biggest cultural gatherings.
This year’s theme, “Juncture of Hum,” reflects the unity and shared energy created when people from different cultures come together. It echoes the festival’s well-known call to action: “Bring Your Fire.”
Zimbabwean artists continue to play an important role at Bushfire, and this year is no exception. Renowned musician Hope Masike is set to perform on the main stage today, keeping Zimbabwe’s creative spirit shining brightly on the international stage.
