Field Reflections from Eswatini: Cultural Immersion and Programme Milestones

This past month our work took us into the heart of the Kingdom of Eswatini, a nation whose cultural continuity offers a profound living example of what it means to remain anchored in indigenous identity while the world rapidly shifts around it.

Our time in Eswatini was not observational and immersive. We engaged deeply with themes that continue to shape both the spiritual and social architecture of the nation: royalty and governance, the principles that hold a people together, polygamous family structures, rites of passage, plant medicine and the enduring power of traditional women’s circles.

We spent several days at Hlane Royal National Park, where we intentionally disconnected from the demands of modern life. In the quiet of the bush, off the grid, we returned to a slower rhythm that allowed for listening, integration and presence. Even our moments of leisure, such as dining at Simunye Country Club, became extensions of cultural observation and connection.

The highlight of our journey was our participation in imikhosi yeBuganu, the sacred marula harvest festival held both at Ebuhleni Royal Residence and Hlane. What we witnessed was nothing short of extraordinary: thousands of women gathered in unified purpose, rooted in ritual, joy and service. It was a powerful affirmation of collective identity; women moving as one body, grounded in culture and deeply aware of who they are.

At our marquee, we had the honour of hosting women from Encabaneni, whom we invited to tfula with us to the Queen Mother. This moment was both symbolic and instructional, an embodiment of respect, protocol, and the living transmission of cultural knowledge. We were further enriched by the presence of cultural expert and consultant, Jabulile Sikhondze, who guided our group of forty women from South Africa through the intricacies of Swati customs, dance and song. 

Our delegation was beautifully diverse; Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa, Tswana and Ndebele women journeyed together to experience Buganu at Hlane. This convergence of lineages created a powerful cross-cultural dialogue grounded in shared African identity.

One of the most fascinating teachings was around traditional Swati regalia. Beyond aesthetics, attire functions as a language communicating marital status, social standing and stages of womanhood. Through dress one reads the story of a woman’s life, her transitions, and her place within the community.

Buganu itself revealed a deeper cosmological layer: it is not merely a festival but a sacred act of gratitude. It is a collective prayer offered to Mother Earth; an honouring of the marula harvest and the fertility it represents. The gathering becomes a vessel of womb energy, where women embody the role of nurturers, carriers of life, and conduits between land and spirit. In this space, the spiritual and the ecological are not separate but they are one continuous conversation.

Our experience at Ebuhleni, though marked by heavy rains and physical discomfort, carried its own teaching. Despite the elements the atmosphere remained electric with women in their thousands, singing, laughing and serving with joy. There was a palpable sense of devotion but unlike conventional religious settings this was not performance. It was participation. A different kind of “church”, one rooted in land, body and ancestral memory.

What stood out most profoundly was the nation’s unwavering pride in its indigenous identity. Eswatini offers a compelling case study in cultural coherence where tradition is not archived but actively lived. In a time where many African societies grapple with fragmentation Eswatini stands as a reminder that continuity is possible when culture is collectively upheld.

Programme Highlight: Expanding the Practice

In parallel with our field immersion, this month also marked a significant milestone in our educational offerings; the successful rollout of the first 8-week Nature’s Way Tarot Reading Course facilitated by Zanemvula.

The course was intentionally curated as an intimate learning container, with enrolment capped at twelve participants to ensure depth, mentorship and meaningful engagement. Notably, eight of the participants joined from the diaspora, reflecting a growing global appetite for grounded, African-centred spiritual frameworks and divination practices.