The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown creative industries around the world into disarray, and Eswatini is no exception. The Yebo! Eswatini Art Fund was established at the start of 2021 as a platform to recognise the incredible talent of local artists and to provide micro-grants to assist in continuing their important work. We have started small, but our aim is for the Fund to grow each year in order to reach more artists, nurture creative freedom of expression and stimulate the creative economy of Eswatini.
2021 Yebo! Eswatini Art Fund Winners
The first edition of the Fund was sponsored by the Sahee Foundation, who have long been involved in grassroots sustainable development work in Eswatini. A total of 15 creatives/artists were awarded grants of E3,000 each (for a total project cost of E45,000) in recognition of their impacted livelihoods, sustained creative output and dedication to the arts in Eswatini. An award of two art material hampers (valued at E500 each) was also provided for "up-and-coming artists" - Thabo Sibeko and Skhumbuzo Matimela.
An independent jury of five local artists was formed to create an efficient, transparent, diverse and democratic process of selecting the Fund recipients. The final winners were selected by the jury members based on merit, diversity and impact. Fund winners represent a wide variety of disciplines such as music, dance, fashion, fine art, film and theater, and we are excited to the number of female artists leading the way! View all the biographies and artwork of the 15 winners above, including links to more of their work online.
Jury members were Sizo Hlophe (Antidote Music), Aleta Armstrong (Yebo! Art Gallery), Khulekani Msweli (JEREMPAUL), Single-Lilly Ndwandwe (Writer) and Mbongeni Dlamini (Visual Artist). Yebo Eswatini Art Fund coordination by Dane Mathendele Armstrong, with web design by Caracali Consulting and Paul Chasusa.