AGP Executive Report

MTN Bushfire Festival: House on Fire in Malkerns wrapped up after three days of music, fashion and culture, with big-name sets including Uncle Waffles and Moonchild Sanelly, plus talks and cultural showcases that kept the vibe going. Festival economy push: MTN Bushfire director Jiggs Thorne says he’s accepted Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini’s challenge to double the festival’s economic impact by 2027, as attendance hits about 23,000. Digital banking at Bushfire: FNB Eswatini used the festival to drive cashless payments, rolling out ATMs, speedpoint devices and support teams for thousands of visitors. Border buzz: Ngwenya Border Post saw heavy queues and excitement as travellers poured in for Bushfire, turning the entry point into part of the experience. Royalties for creatives: ESWACOS says the first royalty distribution for Eswatini creatives is expected in the 2026/27 financial year, after licensing and music tariffs were approved and operations began in January. Taiwan ties under scrutiny: New reporting highlights growing concerns around Taiwan’s relationship with Eswatini, including questions about governance, accountability and the 2021 pro-democracy crackdown. Oil reserve debate: World Bank-linked reporting questions whether Eswatini can afford a $300m Taiwan-backed strategic oil reserve amid poverty and high unemployment. Youth and culture: The EU Bushfire Schools Festival opened at House on Fire with youth performances led by heritage expert Allington Ndlovu, putting young voices at the heart of the main Bushfire build-up.

Bushfire Festival build-up at House on Fire: Crews are racing to finish stages, camping, the global food village and barn marketplace ahead of the MTN Bushfire Festival this weekend. Ngwenya Border rush: Thousands of travellers poured into Eswatini through Ngwenya Border Post as festivalgoers queued for entry, with MTN vendors selling SIM cards to keep people connected. Local creatives get paid: ESWACOS says the first royalty distribution for Eswatini creatives is expected in the 2026/27 financial year, after music tariffs were approved and licensing began in January. World Book & Copyright Day: Eswatini marked the day under “Promoting SiSwati Stories in the Digital Age,” with government stressing copyright protection for creators in the digital era. KwaMagogo comes to life: The Number 43 KwaMagogo story—once a refuge for students fleeing apartheid—has moved from book to stage production for the 1976 uprising anniversary. Press freedom squeeze (including Eswatini): Afrobarometer reports perceived media freedom is shrinking, with Eswatini among the lowest on complete freedom of speech. Uncle Waffles on the global stage: Swazi DJ Uncle Waffles is set to join Asake on the “In God We Trust” world tour, bringing more regional spotlight to international Afrobeats fans.

Bushfire Festival build-up & border rush: Ngwenya Border Post is buzzing as thousands pour in for the 2026 MTN Bushfire Festival at House on Fire, with long queues, heavy traffic and visitors snapping photos before the music, art and food take over. Local creatives get paid: ESWACOS says the first royalty distribution for Eswatini rights holders is expected in the 2026/27 financial year, after music tariffs were approved and licensing began in January. KwaMagogo story goes stage: The Number 43 Legacy Event is set to bring the KwaMagogo exile-home story to life through lectures, performances and a theatrical production titled Magogo Courage ahead of the 1976 youth uprising anniversary. Taxi style spotlight: Zinhle “MaSibal’khulu” Dhlamini is turning heads in uMdlalo waManzi, winning with her customised clean minibuses and proving women can thrive in the taxi industry. Youth creativity at Bushfire Schools: Over 600 pupils from 42 schools showcased culture through music, dance, poetry and drama at the EU Bushfire Schools Festival opening, led by Allington Ndlovu. Press freedom pressure: Afrobarometer reports shrinking civic space across Africa, with perceived freedom of speech especially low in Eswatini (18%). Music tour news: Asake announces his “In God We Trust” world tour, with Swazi DJ Uncle Waffles joining on select dates.

MTN Bushfire Festival Build-Up at House on Fire: The countdown is on as crews race to finish stages, camping, the global food village and the barn marketplace ahead of the three-day music takeover. Ngwenya Border Rush: Thousands of festivalgoers poured into Eswatini through Ngwenya Border Post, with long queues and heavy traffic on the South African side as passport counters worked flat out. Bushfire Schools Showcase: Over 600 pupils from 42 schools filled House on Fire with music, dance, poetry, drama and storytelling under the theme “Art in Action: Future in the Making,” led by heritage expert Allington Ndlovu. Local Creatives’ Royalties: ESWACOS says the first royalty distribution is expected in the 2026/27 financial year after music tariffs were approved and licensing began in January. Eswatini in the Spotlight for SiSwati Stories: World Book and Copyright Day 2026 celebrated “Promoting SiSwati Stories in the Digital Age,” with government stressing copyright protection for creators. Uncle Waffles Joins Asake: Afrobeats star Asake announced his “In God We Trust” world tour, with Swazi DJ/producer Uncle Waffles as a special guest on select dates.

MTN Bushfire Festival: House On Fire is gearing up for a three-day music takeover, with stages packed from today to Sunday and festival crews already building the grounds, plus phone-charging points and big brand activations. Border Buzz: Thousands of visitors are flooding in via Ngwenya Border ahead of the festival, with long queues and heavy traffic expected to keep rolling. Youth Creativity: Zimbabwean cultural expert Allington Ndlovu opened the 2026 EU Bushfire Schools Festival at House on Fire, bringing music, dance, poetry, drama and storytelling from 42 schools under “Art in Action: Future in the Making.” Royalties for Creatives: ESWACOS says the first royalty distribution is expected in the 2026/27 financial year, after licensing operations began in January with approved music tariffs. SiSwati Stories: Eswatini marked World Book and Copyright Day 2026 under “Promoting SiSwati Stories in the Digital Age,” pushing stronger copyright protection for creators. Music on the Move: Afrobeats star Asake announced his “In God We Trust” world tour, with Swazi DJ Uncle Waffles as a special guest.

MTN Bushfire Festival: House On Fire is set to turn into a three-day music takeover from today to Sunday, with Uncle Waffles, Moonchild Sanelly, Young Stunna, Kokoroko, Msaki, Jesse Clegg and Kabelo Mabalane on the main stage, amapiano heat at Corona Firefly, and a Bring Your Fire Zone built for art and dance energy. Royalties for local creatives: ESWACOS says the first royalty distribution for Eswatini rights holders is expected in the 2026/27 financial year, after draft music tariffs were approved and licensing began in January. Bushfire border rush: Ngwenya Border Post saw long queues as thousands crossed from South Africa ahead of the festival, with MTN vendors selling SIM cards to keep visitors connected. World Book & Copyright Day: Eswatini marked the day under “Promoting SiSwati Stories in the Digital Age,” with government stressing copyright protection as key to growing the creative economy. Local hip hop: Lyrikal Busta denied beef rumours with Young Zesh, saying his latest diss-style releases were about defending himself and his artists through music. Arts, culture & festivals beyond Eswatini: Malawi’s Inkosi M’mbelwa V urged higher standards for the Umthetho Cultural Festival and promised it will keep culture growing and tourism on the map.

World Book Day 2026 (Eswatini): Eswatini marked World Book and Copyright Day with the theme “Promoting SiSwati Stories in the Digital Age,” with government stressing copyright protection and support for the creative economy. Music & Culture (Eswatini connection): Afrobeats star Asake announced his “In God We Trust” world tour, with Swazi DJ/producer Uncle Waffles joining as special guest on select dates. Arts & Entertainment (Regional comedy): Dr. Hilary Okello’s “Jokes From Far Away” tour continues across southern Africa, with Botswana set to host after successful stops including Eswatini. Festival Buzz (Eswatini): MTN Bushfire Festival preparations are in full swing, with the grounds coming alive ahead of this weekend’s sold-out programme. Diplomacy & Scrutiny (Eswatini–Taiwan): Growing debate continues around Taiwan’s relationship with Eswatini, with critics questioning motives, accountability, and the wider impact on democratic freedoms. Safety & Media (Eswatini): Police warn of a new Google Meet voice-call scam targeting bank details, urging the public to stay alert.

Press Freedom Reality Check: A new Afrobarometer survey says Africans overwhelmingly back media freedom and organising, but perceived freedom of speech is slipping fast—Eswatini is among the lowest, with only 18% saying they feel completely or somewhat free to speak. Mental Health Spotlight: Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi is set to keynote WHO’s East and Southern Africa mental health workshop in Johannesburg, with eSwatini among the participating countries. Afrobeats on the Move: Asake announces his “In God We Trust” world tour, kicking off in July, with Swazi DJ Uncle Waffles joining as special guest on select dates. Local Music Buzz: Swazi hip hop artist Lyrikal Busta denies rumours of a feud with Young Zesh, saying his responses were about defending himself and his artists through music. Royal Ties in Focus: King Mswati III meets Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince during an official UAE visit, underscoring continued cultural and economic cooperation. Festival Energy: MTN Bushfire Festival preparations are in full swing, with the grounds taking shape ahead of the sold-out event. Safety & Scams: Police warn of a new Google Meet voice-call scam targeting bank details, urging people to verify suspicious contacts. Arts, Culture & Tech: A South African Catholic encyclical discussion highlights how social media and AI can pressure young people—while stressing dignity beyond followers and likes. Eswatini Under Scrutiny: Growing debate continues over Taiwan’s relationship with eSwatini, with critics questioning accountability, governance, and human rights concerns. Oil Reserve Debate: eSwatini’s $300m Taiwan-backed strategic oil reserve deal raises tough questions about affordability amid poverty and unemployment.

Music & Culture: Asake drops details of his “In God We Trust” world tour, kicking off in July with Swazi DJ/producer Uncle Waffles as a special guest, plus a 13-city run hitting London, Paris, Atlanta, Toronto, Houston and Miami. Local Hip-Hop: Lyrikal Busta cools down rumours of a Young Zesh feud, saying his diss-track back-and-forth was about defending himself and his camp through music, not violence. Festival Buzz: MTN Bushfire Festival preparations are in full swing, with the grounds taking shape for this weekend’s sold-out event, featuring Eswatini brands, roaming arts and big-stage programming. Arts & Entertainment Spotlight: Bongeziwe Mabandla begins his world tour with a South African stop, previewing his forthcoming album “Ndingubani” and bringing Mozambican collaborators into a tight, electronic-infused Afro-folk sound. Eswatini in the Spotlight: Growing scrutiny continues around eSwatini’s Taiwan ties, with critics questioning governance, accountability and human-rights concerns. Community & Safety: Police warn of a new Google Meet voice-call scam targeting bank customers.

Afrobeats Tour Buzz: Asake has unveiled his “In God We Trust” international tour, kicking off July 4 in Portimão and running through Europe and North America, with Swazi DJ/producer Uncle Waffles joining as a special guest on select dates. Festival Energy: MTN Bushfire Festival preparations are in full swing, with the grounds at House On Fire being built up for this weekend’s sold-out run—plus local brand activations and charging stations for thousands of fans. Local Arts Building: ENCAC has launched nine-month interim committees to help register and formalise national arts associations, aiming for better governance, discipline-specific programmes, and elections by January 2027. Music & Rap Talk: Lyrikal Busta has moved to cool down rumours of a beef with Young Zesh, framing recent diss tracks as self-defence through music rather than physical conflict. Sports Spotlight: Nsingizini Hotspurs wrapped up the 2025/26 MTN Premier League season as treble winners, defending the title after edging Rangers and later being crowned following their draw with Sea Birds. Safety Alert: Police warn of a new Google Meet voice-call scam targeting bank customers, with fraudsters posing as FNB to trick victims into sharing card details.

MTN Bushfire Festival: The grounds at House On Fire are waking up fast, with crews building from camping sites to the main stage, the global food village and the barn marketplace—plus wristbands for police, fire and emergency teams, and even phone-charging stations for thousands of fans. Strategic Energy Debate: Eswatini has signed a $300m deal with Taiwan to build the Phuzumoya Strategic Oil Reserve, but the move is colliding with unemployment, poverty and fresh questions about who benefits. Arts & Culture: ENCAC has launched nine-month interim committees to register and formalise national arts associations, aiming for stronger governance and elections by 2027. Arts & Safety: Police warn of a new Google Meet bank scam tactic, where callers impersonate FNB and try to pull card details. Music & Spotlight: Asake announces his “In God We Trust” tour with Swazi DJ Uncle Waffles on select dates.

Maritime Sanctions Loophole: A new report says Russia is using “flag of convenience” shipping—adding African states like Eswatini to global shipping rankings—to help its shadow oil fleet dodge Western sanctions, with the fleet reportedly earning €713 million a day by March 2026. Taiwan Scrutiny: Growing attention is also focused on Taiwan–Eswatini ties, with critics questioning patronage, accountability, and human-rights concerns, including how authorities handled the 2021 pro-democracy protests. Arts & Culture at Home: The Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) has launched nine-month interim committees to build and formalise national arts associations, aiming for registration, governance, and elections by January 2027. Safety & Scams: Police warn of a new Google Meet bank scam tactic, where callers impersonate FNB and try to steal card details. Regional Spotlight: WUF13 in Baku continues to draw international media coverage after its wrap-up.

Beauty Industry Crackdown: South Africa’s fast-growing, Instagram-driven “aesthetics” scene is under fresh scrutiny after experts warn invasive cosmetic procedures are spreading in an unregulated underground economy, with one Johannesburg studio (Sir Tim Aesthetics) not responding to safety and qualification questions. Immigration Pressure: South Africa’s government rejects a “Trump wall” style approach, saying it will push regional partners to share border-management responsibility as anti-migrant protests flare. Media Freedom Watch: Botswana’s perceived media freedom has dropped sharply—down 20 points in five years—signalling shrinking civic space. Scam Alert: Police warn of a new Google Meet voice-call bank scam, where callers impersonate FNB and try to pull card details. Arts & Culture (Eswatini): ENCAC has launched nine-month interim committees to build and formalise national arts associations, aiming for proper registration and elections by January 2027. US Embassy Support: The US Embassy in Eswatini funds four creatives under America 250, backing theatre, dance, music and multimedia storytelling.

Scam Alert: Police warn of a new Google Meet voice-call trick where fraudsters pose as FNB staff, claim a suspicious transaction, and push victims to share card details. Arts & Culture: ENCAC has launched nine-month interim committees to register and professionalise Eswatini’s arts associations, setting up constitutions and future elections. US–Africa Health Funding: A report says African countries may still access US public health money only if they “cough up” minerals and data first—raising fresh fears of coercive deals. Sports Spotlight: Mbabane Highlanders finally broke their derby curse with a 1-0 win over Mbabane Swallows, while Uganda’s locally made electric buses signal a greener mobility push. Global Arts Link: The US Embassy in Eswatini announced four Freedom250 recipients, funding theatre, dance, music and multimedia storytelling.

Cybercrime Alert: Police warn of a new bank scam using Google Meet voice calls—callers show up as “FNB” with the bank logo, claim suspicious activity, then push victims to share card details like numbers and expiry dates. Diplomacy & Taiwan: A fresh debate is swirling around Taiwan’s allies, with eSwatini named among the countries that still recognize it—while China rejects any moves that challenge the one-China principle. Arts & Culture (Local): ENCAC has launched nine-month interim committees to register and formalise national arts associations, aiming for stronger governance and elections by January 2027. US Embassy Support: The US Embassy in Eswatini announced four Freedom250 recipients under America250, funding theatre, dance, music and multimedia storytelling with rehearsal and performance support. Sports (Regional): Mbabane Highlanders finally broke their derby curse with a 1-0 win over Mbabane Swallows, ending a long winless run.

Arts & Culture Spotlight: ENCAC has launched nine-month interim committees to build and formalise national arts associations, aiming for proper registration, governance, and long-term sustainability across disciplines. Creative Funding: The US Embassy in Eswatini, via the America 250 initiative, has named four Freedom250 recipients at the Eswatini Theatre Club, backing theatre, dance, music and multimedia storytelling with rehearsal and performance support. Regional Mobility & Green Tech: Uganda’s locally made electric buses are rolling into daily Kampala life, with plans to scale up fast as part of a wider e-mobility push. Sports & Youth Energy: Salem Hills won the 5A softball title after a tense series with Box Elder, while Eswatini-linked regional table tennis is set to get a boost as Zimbabwe hosts the AU Sports Council Region 5 champs with teams including Eswatini. Policy & Daily Life: Government is considering incentives to push TaxCore electronic invoicing compliance, with special-coded receipts meant to tighten VAT remittance. What’s missing: No major Eswatini-only breaking news beyond ENCAC and the Freedom250 arts funding.