Traditional leaders have been challenged to jealously guard Eswatini’s cultural heritage while embracing their growing role as drivers of sustainable development,
with preserving the Kingdom’s identity described as a national responsibility that cannot be left to future generations.
This was the dominant message on the second day of the Manzini Chiefs Summit at Esibayeni Lodge, where chiefs from across the country joined government officials, regional administrators,
development partners and cultural experts to examine how traditional leadership can remain relevant in a rapidly changing society without compromising the customs, traditions and values that define the Kingdom.
Delivering a keynote presentation, Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) Chief Executive Officer Stanley Dlamini urged chiefs to take the lead in safeguarding Eswatini’s history, 
traditions and cultural heritage, saying they remained the custodians of the nation’s identity.
He said preserving the country’s heritage was not only a cultural obligation but a national responsibility that demanded decisive leadership from traditional authorities.
“As custodians of our people, chiefs have a unique responsibility to ensure that our cultural practices, indigenous knowledge, historical sites and traditional values are protected from being eroded by rapid social and technological change,” he said.
Dlamini stressed that preserving culture required deliberate efforts to pass knowledge from one generation to another,
encouraging chiefs to promote cultural education among young people to ensure that Swati traditions continue to thrive for generations to come.
He said arts, culture and heritage should remain at the centre of community development, adding that preserving the nation’s identity was essential to maintaining unity and strengthening the country’s social fabric.
The discussions drew inspiration from the Eswatini National Arts and Culture Policy, which recognises chiefs as “the footstool of the King” and entrusts them with protecting the Kingdom’s customs, traditions and identity.
The policy further acknowledges chiefs as trusted leaders responsible for fostering unity and preserving Swati cultural values within their communities.
