Swaziland Newspapers in Indigenous Languages

Abstract

The paper discusses the history of newspapers that are in indigenous languages in Swaziland and looks at the role that they play in informing society. It argues that the newspaper is the main means for making people get involved in governance because it makes people know what is happening around them. It states that there is reason to study
closely why newspapers that are in SiSwati, the indigenous language have a problem in Swaziland. It discusses newspapers from as way back as 1934 to the present. The problems that the research reports include lack or a readership, lack of interest among reporters to do journalism in SiSwati, poor translation and lack of government support. The newspapers that are included in the study include Izwi LamaSwazi, Tikhatsi, Intsatseli, Umbiki, and Umgijimi. Based on the stipulations of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, it is obvious that more concerted effort is needed in producing newspapers in SiSwati. This problem should not just be the problem of media houses alone.