Open call: MTN Bushfire Firefly music competition

Interested artists should send their music recordings to be considered for the Firefly competition. The call is designed for vocalists, singers and rappers aged between 16 and 35 years. Artists should submit their music recordings for a chance to be part of MTN Bushfire Firefly.

MTN Bushfire Firefly seeks to create a music space for the young gifted artists to freely express themselves by sharing their musical creativity and lyrical authenticity. The top three winners will perform at the MTN Bushfire festival, which will be held from 30 May to 1 June 2025.

Each year, 20 artists are selected from the applications and promoted across MTN Bushfire’s social media platforms and affiliate festival platforms to grow their reach and awareness. The Top 10 artists are then selected by public vote to perform for a live audience at the MTN Bushfire Firefly Grand Finale, which will be taking place on 24 April 2025. The top three winners will each receive prizes, career opportunities and a performance slot at the MTN Bushfire festival.

Applications for this year’s edition of the competition are open here and interested artists should apply before 7 March. Applicants are required to send two tracks for consideration and their Electronic Press Kit (EPK)/biography either in PDF format or via a web link.

Who can apply?

• Artists aged between 16 and 35 years.
• Artist must have at least two recorded songs for consideration.
• Residents of eSwatini.
• Performance experience preferred.
• Applications are not open to DJs.

How it works

• 11 February to 7 March: Applications open.
• 11 March to 26 March: Top 20 announcement and voting commences on AYOBA.
• 28 March to 20 April: Top 10 announcement and voting continues on AYOBA.
• 24 April: MTN Bushfire Firefly grand finale.
• 30 May  to 1 June: The top three perform at the MTN Bushfire festival.

Artist benefits

• Top 20: Music promotion on international platforms.
• Top 20: Access to MTN CallerTunes on-boarding.
• Top 20: Arts Round Table participation opportunity.
• Top 10: Performance at the Firefly Top 10 Grand Finale with expense stipend.
• Top 10: Branded merchandise.
• Top 3: Mobile phones sponsored by MTN eSwatini.
• Top 3 - Performance slot at the MTN Bushfire festival with expense stipend.

Launched in 2017, MTN Bushfire Firefly is a manifestation of MTN Bushfire’s Bring Your Fire call to action for positive social and environmental change. The competition is an expression of the festival’s arts development pillar which has inspired conscious and tangible efforts to create sustained access to the arts for eSwatini’s youth.

Over the years, the competition has established an inspiring track record of unearthing, promoting and supporting emerging talent by giving the youth a credible platform to share their music to wide audiences. To date, the music competition has empowered over 100 up-and-coming artists, most of whom have used this opportunity to elevate their musical careers and become recognised artists in eSwatini’s music industry.

To learn more about the competition and how to enter, participants should download the Ayoba app here and subscribe to the MTN Bushfire Firefly channel.

View the original call here.