Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, was a distinguished guest at Eswatini’s vibrant Buganu festival.
The Kingdom of Eswatini is a land-locked country to the east of South Africa. The larger country almost surrounds it, but also shares a border with Mozambique.
Held annually, the festival celebrates the harvest of the Marula fruit, a major event in the kingdom’s national calendar.
King Mswati III led the ceremony in Hlane, joined by the Queen Mother and Madam Botchwey. The visiting dignitary donned the traditional “Lihiya” attire, its orange colour reflecting the celebratory spirit.
Beyond the festival, King Mswati also met with Madam Botchwey privately for discussions and hosted a banquet in her honour at the Hlane palace. She additionally delivered a message on behalf of Ghana’s President.
The festivities weren’t just for observers. Madam Botchwey and Eswatini’s Foreign Minister, Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu, joined the celebratory “Lushango” dance under the festival’s bright lights.
The star of the festival, however, is the Marula fruit. This versatile fruit is not only the source of Buganu, a staple Swazi alcoholic drink, but also the base for the commercially known creamy liqueur, Amarula.
