Theme: Imagine Inspire Awaken

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Eswatini Theatre Club
Corner Dzeliwe and Msakato Street
Mbabane, Hhohho, H100
Swaziland

Aliselihle Tfwala

Sedulous and creative, Aliselihle Tfwala is a 15-year old teenager. She is one of the directors of a rapidly growing company that promotes sustainable brands here in Eswatini. Her fervor for art has rendered her endowed in a number of aspects of it. These include music, drawing and poetry. According to her perception of it, story telling is more than involvement of talking and listening but it is rather the involvement of words with sentimental worth in one's life to paint a vivid picture in another's mind. Through storytelling life changing ideas are shared in a way that renders them fully comprehended so that they can be effectively implemented. It is for that reason, she values story telling as a platform to spread pivotal ideas.

Andile Mabuza

ACE JULZ, BORN ANDILE MABUZA, IS A HIP-HOP ARTIST WITH IMPACCABLE LYRICS, RHYMES AND FLOWS, WHO DABBLES IN OTHER GENRES DEPENDING ON THE SUBJECT MATTER DERIVED FROM HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND EMOTIONS. THE GEM ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE MIC'D EMOTIONS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN EMBASSY, WHICH BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN CREATIVES AND ART FANATICS WHILE ADRESSING SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES. HE WAS PART OF A CHOSEN FEW SWATI ARTISTS TO BE IN A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME CURATED BY ANTIDOTE CULTURE FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MUSIC IN AFRICA & THE EUROPIAN UNION DELIGATES IN ESWATINI.

Betfusile Mamba

Beezae is a Spoken Word poet and Singer/Songwriter from Nhlangano in Eswatini. She tackles social issues, spirituality and love in a soft and gentle approach. Her work landed her nominations in both SWAMA and SMA in 2020 and 2021 consecutively. She has gone to perform in Portas D'alma, partaked in SADC Human Rights Festival and other incredible platforms within Southern Africa. She recently dropped her Debut single Kukhanya which introduces her fans to her light and fun side of AfroHouse

Fezile Mhlanga

Fezile is a young and vibrant Ecologist who is passionate about all things nature. She is fascinated by soil and the intricate relationship which all life forms have with the soil. It is this reason which prompts her to actively advocate for soil rehabilitation. Fezile believes a significant cause of the ecological crisis we witness today, stems from our divergence from our biological way of life. She therefore centers most of her advocacy around rewilding, not just nature but rewilding ourselves as well. She is also passionate about sharing scientific research through storytelling in order to make it accessible for citizens who have been marginalized and oppressed.

Josaphat Meludie

A vibrant, impactful and imposing poet, transcending mere boarders of pen and regions. Unpredictable yet captivating as irony, humor and enlightenment are merged to form mind blowing performances. His poetry bridges a variety of genres venturing into unity, African history and humanity. Versatile in English, French and SiSwati, different demographics are drawn, promoting unity and dispelling differences Having performed international renown events, his experience is well rooted and founded in diversity and excellence. His sphere of influence increases steadily, whilst impacting and motivating more global populations. Asserting his dominance in the kingdom, his work and love of the arts, propel prosperity of mind, body, and spirit above all. Josaphat Meludie is a knowledge revolutionary, stitching facts and stories to empower people to fuse roots, with sustainable actions for a brighter future.

Joy Ndwandwe

Doctor of Education, African Futurist and Queen of Indigenous Knowledge, Dr. Joy Dumsile Ndwandwe Mantra was born in 1962 when Eswatini declared non-racialism and discrimination creating enabling environment for unapologetic citizens after 1968 independence. This has evolved into Confidence, Dignity and Contentment leading Africa’s Second Liberation of Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Modernity. Confidence in the continents prehistorical contexts and indigenous knowledge that enabled ancestors and forefathers to traverse uncharted parts. Dignity, humanity’s gift from God, the Supreme Being who guided ancestors and forefathers with Ubuntu, I am because we are all related, humans, animals, plants and land. Contentment evoked through wealth consciousness on how we are all children of Mother Earth who loves us unconditionally and provides for us through coexistence with the ecology, environment, and nature. Driven by confidence, dignity and contentment this African Futurist born with indigenous prophetic gift, which was suppressed when studying accounting in Botswana and Canada. However evoked when spiritually mentored at Institute of Right Brain Research in Montreal, Canada, leading to officially retiring at 42 years. This was after working in National Development, Urban Development, Municipal Finance and Local Economic Development in Eswatini, South Africa and Zambia. In post-retirement has published three books: Releasing Monkey’s, Spirit of Kwandza and Akusiko Kwami Kwebantfu unearthing King Sobhuza II’s Philosophy and currently Eswatini Sunday Observer Weekly Columnist Joy Ndwandwe’s Leadership Zone. Ms Ndwandwe stands firmly as a futurist on how indigenous knowledge epistemologies and indigenous foods or traditional African vegetables are futuristic imperative for peace and sustainable development. This Queen of Indigenous Knowledge a title emanating from her old soul LaZidze evoked when unearthing King Sobhuza II’s Philosophy leading to the spiritual and academic journey. The queen title has been academically proven through research methodology in her Masters and Doctorate of Education now being transformed into spiritual and academic project as founding President of Indigenous Knowledge Hub NGO. Gogo Ndwandwe as respectfully referred to by King Sobhuza II’s children and eMalangeni is a member of World Dignity University Global Educators of the World Dignity University; member of UNESCO Eswatini Commission Technical Team on Education for Sustainable Development; Education Committee Chair of the United Kingdoms of Africa and Traditional African Vegetables Ambassador for Taiwan African Vegetables Initiative (TAVI) in Eswatini. Dr Ndwandwe has been appointed into the Indigenous Knowledge Advisory Group by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology in Eswatini.

Mpumalanga Zwane

Mpumalanga Zwane is not new to the TEDx community having worked as a Lead Speaker Curator for TEDxALC in Mauritius, 2017. She has performed and had her work displayed in multiple countries including Rwanda, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Malawi. As a BA (Hons) Social Science graduate from the African Leadership University in Mauritius, she uses her social science background and poetry to address issues of socioeconomic inequality in the civic society space. Her work in this sphere earned her a spot am0ong 150 young leaders from Southern Africa selected for the Young African Leaders Initiative’s residential program (YALI), where she went on to serve on the Eswatini chapter’s as the Communications and Advocacy Officer.

Nonhle Matsebula

Nonhle Matsebula is a purpose-driven entrepreneur whose values are truth, justice, fairness and freedom and are reflected in the business she co-founded in 2018, Girl Boss South Africa. As CEO of Girl Boss SA, she founded a first-of-its-kind for a South African business; a true beauty-for-purpose brand that manufactures Girl Boss branded personal care products in South Africa’s leading retail chains such as Dischem Pharmacies and Clicks stores. It is propelled by a multimedia platform that produces and distributes content that empowers girls between the ages of 16 – 30 years old, to help them find their purpose by providing opportunities that will help better themselves and to cultivate Girl Boss mindsets. Nonhle’s ambition is to contribute towards alleviating gender inequality and all its accompanying attributes by building Girl Boss in all African territories. She ploys to achieve this by publicly challenging the status quo of Gender Inequality and Gender Based Violence in Southern Africa, which she is already executing on the Girl Boss Social Media platforms. She firmly believes that it is imperative to eliminate all injustices posed against women and do so by building businesses and institutions that are committed to empowering women economically so they gain fair access to opportunities that can prevent women from finding themselves in vulnerable circumstances. Nonhle has a degree in Film, Media and African Studies from the University of Cape Town, and intends to commence her studies in the field of Law in 2023. Her hope is to be accepted at an internationally acclaimed institution so she can utilize resources and gain jurisprudence in societies where the law and justice system works in the favour of GBV and Gender Inequality in corporate and workspaces. She intends to utilize her entrepreneurial stratagems to seek solution-oriented growth opportunities that are innovative and implementable as well as provide practical solutions She was recently nominated as one of the Mail & Guardian 200 Young Influential South Africans in Business & Entrepreneurship for 2022 and has also been recently selected as part of the Top 50 Rising Motherland Moguls by She Leads Africa 2023.

Ntombenhle Khathwane

Ntombenhle Khathwane, is a solutions mediatorship specialist, the founder and CEO of AfroBotanics, an author, a speaker and an activist, who believes the destiny of humanity is love, unity, peace, harmony and equality, and works every day to contribute to this.

Wendzile Zwane

Wendzile is a curious, determined, bold and outspoken young woman who was born in Mbabane, Eswatini and raised in the sugar filled town called Simunye. She believes in creating safe spaces in the workplace through policy development, good governance and capacity building. She also believes that once people understand their personal and professional power and the power of teamwork, so much more can be done- including addressing workplace bullying and corruption. Wendzile has 8 years experience in human resource in both the private and public sector. Her career as an HR practitioner began at age 23, and age 24 she began her journey as an HR Manager; the youngest executive in the team. As an HR practitioner, she has developed other young people, mentored young people, developed policies and more. Wendzile advocates for the truth and safe workspaces, and teaches other professionals the same whenever she can. She is also a graduate of the University of Cape Town (Bachelor of Social Science in Sociology and Psychology), and served as member of one House Committee (Glendower Residence). Wendzile is a YALI Alumni, cohort 12 & Guest speaker and part time volunteer. Overall, Wendzile is a passionate and loving individual who enjoys being in spaces where people are themselves.

Zanemvula Tsabedze

Zanemvula is an African traditional healer who specialises in cosmic alignment. She teaches African indigenous knowledge systems of time-keeping and the history thereof. Her teachings can be found on YouTube via AfroSavvy, a media company that she co- founded in 2018.