Mi Casa to headline new eSwatini fest

Launched by the organisers of MTN Bushfire Festival in November last year, the festival is a one-day feast of music, fashion, culinary exploits and whiskey showcases. It is designed to bring the Bushfire ethos of diversity, inclusion and social responsibility, the organisers said.

The event will host musicians, artisans, chefs, wineries, breweries and restaurants.

The music line-up, which alludes to the magic of the post-bebop jazz era, will also feature South African artists Thandiswa Mazwai, blues guitarist Albert Frost and hip hop-jazz group Rebirth of Cool. Local artists billed are Judah Silitshena, Khole Tshabalala and Miss Floewe.

“Within the House on Fire amphitheatre, a culinary-focused programme will create space for interaction with featured presenters, celebrity chefs and culinary demonstrations, as well as stand-up comedy and a selection of artists and DJs from the region,” the organisers said.

“During the event, sponsors, brands and traders will be able to directly engage with more than 4 000 sophisticated and diverse guests from across Southern Africa. It will also present the opportunity for chefs, wineries, breweries, distilleries, lifestyle brands and eateries as well as artisans, designers, and companies to showcase themselves through a variety of exhibition and activation opportunities."

Superstar Mazwai is expected to light up the festival with her seamless combination of traditional and modern music. Rebirth of Cool, featuring emerging South African jazzists Benjamin Jephta (bass) and Thandi Ntuli (piano/vocals), combines elements of old school jazz, trap, R&B and hip hop inspired by the 1957 Miles Davis album Birth of the Cool.

Tickets to the event can be bought online here or at the Standard Bank branch in Mbabane.