The Kingdom of Eswatini has joined the global community in marking World Book and Copyright Day 2026, under the national theme “Promoting SiSwati Stories in the Digital Age,” with government reaffirming its commitment to protecting creativity and strengthening the country’s creative economy.
The event, held on Thursday, May 28, brought together government officials, creators, publishers, educators and stakeholders from the cultural and creative industries to celebrate the role of literature, storytelling and intellectual property in preserving Eswatini’s cultural identity and supporting economic development.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Minister of Economic Planning and Development Dr Thambo Gina highlighted the importance of copyright protection in empowering local creators and ensuring that Eswatini’s cultural heritage continues to thrive in the digital era.
Dr Gina noted that the rapid expansion of digital platforms presents both opportunities and challenges for creators, making it even more important to protect intellectual property rights while also widening access to local content.
He emphasised that books, music, film, storytelling and other forms of digital media play a key role in shaping national identity, promoting indigenous languages and driving economic growth within the creative sector.
He further stressed that the government remains committed to building an enabling environment where artists, writers, publishers, filmmakers and other creatives are properly recognised and fairly rewarded for their intellectual work, including content distributed through online platforms.
The commemoration also underscored the importance of preserving SiSwati storytelling and safeguarding local narratives for future generations, especially as digital technology continues to reshape how content is created, shared and consumed worldwide.
One of the major highlights of the programme was the recognition of the first group of licensed copyright users, a milestone officials described as an important step toward improving copyright compliance and building a more sustainable creative industry in Eswatini.
The initiative is expected to promote greater respect for intellectual property rights while ensuring that creators are fairly rewarded for the commercial use of their work.
World Book and Copyright Day is marked each year to encourage reading, support publishing, and promote the protection of intellectual property through copyright laws.
The 2026 celebration in Eswatini placed a strong emphasis on preserving and promoting SiSwati culture and storytelling, particularly at a time when digital platforms continue to reshape how stories and cultural heritage are shared.