EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Dessislava Choumelova, said this on 17 April 2024 during the launch of the 2024 EU Bushfire Schools Festival, an annual event that brings together 600 learners from across Eswatini to express themselves in the many languages of art.

The festival takes place at House on Fire in Malkerns ahead of the internationally-acclaimed MTN Bushfire music festival. This year, the schools festival will take place on 30 May.

Also present during the launch was the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima.

In her address, Ambassador Choumelova said the EU Bushfire Schools Festival, which has been held over the last several years, has become a major catalyst in the development of the creative art industry in Eswatini.

She said the EU was proud to maintain the partnership with Bushfire to organize the schools festival, which brings together 600 High School learners from across Eswatini to experience the magic of art, perform themselves and learn through art whilst discovering new possibilities for collaborations and for careers in the creative industries.

“The continued support to the schools festival confirms the EU’s desire to see performance arts and cultural industries play a crucial role in human development and social cohesion and inclusion in Eswatini. We look forward to another memorable day on 30 May when 600 high school learners gather here to express themselves in the many languages of art,” said the Ambassador.