EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, said this on 04 April 2025 at House on Fire during the official launch of the 18^th edition of the MTN Bushfire Festival, an internationally acclaimed annual event that will take place on 30 May – 01 June 2025.

Prime Minister, Russell Dlamini, officially launched this festival in which the title sponsor, MTN Eswatini, also announced an SZL 5 million sponsorship for this year.

In his speech during this launch event also attended by a big crowd, Ambassador Mecklenburg said the EU Bushfire Schools Festival, always taking place a day before the main MTN Bushfire Festival, annually brings more than 600 high school learners and youth for a day of self-expression in the many languages of art.

The Ambassador said over the last 12 years since the EU Bushfire Schools Festival started, more than 10 000 young people have been introduced to the power of art in a truly unique and inspiring fashion.

“That is we look forward to another exciting day with the high school learners and out-of-school youth on 29 May,” said Ambassador Mecklenburg.

He further said the Schools Festival was one of the results of the EU’s partnership with the Kingdom of Eswatini in promoting art in the country.

According to the Ambassador, the EU was supporting art in Eswatini because, whilst bringing out the rich depths of the human soul, art unites and speaks to the shared humanity in a universal language accessible to all.

“As the EU, we promote the creative industries because they are the driver for economic growth, development and job creation. That is why the current EU cooperation programme in Eswatini focuses on the youth.

“In the EU, we believe youth are the drivers of social and technological innovation and progress, sources of new ideas and inspiration and of unbridled creativity. There is considerable talent in Eswatini. That is why we all need to support these talented youths in their contribution to the country’s economy,” said the Ambassador.

He concluded by saying that anywhere in the world, including Eswatini, performance arts and cultural industries play a crucial role in human development, social cohesion and inclusion towards better lives for all.