Review: MTN Bushfire Festival 2019

Camping opened mid-day on Thursday, and early campers were welcomed into a warm up evening session at Malandela's Restaurant with music from DJ Bob and DJ Bubbles.

The Round Arts Table – Beyond Borders Workshop

This year's workshop was held at the Eswatini MTN Headquarters (Mahlalekhukhwini House). Artists, art executives, promoters and sponsors were all present for the workshop, which started with registrations at 08:00 AM. This year's objective of the workshop - of advancing and facilitating Arts Mobility within Africa - was in alignment with the Moving Africa programme of the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, MTN Bushfire and IGODA.The Arts Round Table – Beyond Borders Workshop was designed to increase knowledge and skills in the artistic community, thus enabling individuals and organisations to succeed as professionals in the artistic and entertainment field.

The program started with an in-depth look at the IGODA Southern African Music Festival Network and the opportunities it creates for regional linkages and partnerships. The programme also explored new music markets and events across the continent.

This year’s Arts Round Table – Beyond Borders workshop had over 60 local industry players, who took part in panel discussions, networking and exploring mobility opportunities with a range of international guests including festival, venue and music market directors, amongst other professionals. A host of various festivals and music market directors from across east and southern Africa took part in the workshop, including Paula Chibanga from Mozambique’s Azgo Music Festival, Sphe Mbhele from The Music Imbizo in Durban, Herman Kabubi from the Doadoa Music Market in Uganda, Yusuf Mahmoud from Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, Sinamandla from South Africa’s Moshito and Maria Wilson from Zimbabwe’s HIFA.

Various topics to empower upcoming local musicians were discussed, including "Exploring the IGODA Model and other opportunities for Creating Regional Linkages, Regional Associate Partnership" presented by festival directors Jiggs Thorne (Bushfire), Paulo Chibanga (Azgo), Moshitos representative Sinamandla Kwepile and KZN Music Imbizo's Sphe Mbele.

Presenting the topic "Exploring New Markets - Events/Music Markets/Venues/Festivals" were representatives from the Southern and East African regions. From Southern Africa were Oppikopi's Theresho Selesho, Marc Brebant (Centro Cultural Franco Mocambicano), Seabelo Modibe (Botswana International Music Conference), Montoeli Moleli (Lesotho Tourism Festival) and Paul Cavalier (The Afro Fest Cape Town). East Africa was represented by Yasuf Mahmoud, Herman Kabubi (Bayimba/DOADOA Music Market, Uganda), Eric Karengara (Kigali Up, Rwanda), Justine Mbugua (Blankets & Wine, Kenya) and Maria Wilson.

The next topic was "Arts Mobility - Funding Opportunities", which was presented by Thabiso Mohare of the British Council, Francois Venter (Goethe-Institut) and Ignacio Priego of Concerts SA. All expanded on available funding opportunities and urged local musicians to always look into these opportunities provided by these institutions.

The last topic of the day was "Packaging Your Asset - the Building of an Electronic Press Kit", which was presented by Jess White. He encouraged local Musicians to keep clean EPKs with professional content and explained the importance of having an EPK at the ready. Flameboy Universe and Shejay Zoe were local artists who shared their EPKs, explaining how these assets have helped grow their brands and careers.

Closing the workshop was Music In Africa's Eddie Hatitye, who encouraged local musicians to make use of musicinafrica.net, a portal where they can share their music and important information about venues, festivals, dates and the like.

Festival Performances

The first day of the MTN Bushfire Festival was so exciting: with the rest of the festivalgoers coming in, the lawn was on fire. Some highlights of the mind-blowing musical acts were Nigerian international superstar Mr Eazi, all-female band The Sheekings, Moonchild Sanelly & Eme collaborations, DJ Cybos and, for the first tiem, Swazi traditional dance was showcased by a local traditional dance group.

Day two of the MTN Bushfire saw Mahube, an explosive collaboration directed by the multi-award-winning Steve and Bokani Dyers, take to the stage. Mahube brought together some of Southern Africa’s top musicians performing contemporary arrangements of traditional music from Southern Africa, as well as inspired originals which are sure to touch hearts with moving, soulful vocals. The group also paid tribute to one of its iconic members, Oliver Mtukudzi.

MEUTE the Techno Marching Band, with well-balanced sounds of hypnotic driving techno and expressive brass band music, kept fuelling the fire.The legendary South African kwaito group Trompies took all fans down memory lane with old skool kwaito classics. Clossing day two was South African energetic house duo Blackmotion.

Sunday, day three of the festival, saw a chilled nujazzy vibe predominate, with festivalgoers already looking forward to the performances of internationally-renowned Nigerian artist Asa and the "The Village Pope" Tsepo Tshola from South Africa. Starting up the day was Nibs Van Der Spuy, next was The Tune Recreation Committee followed by Mizki's Afro-soul and the sensational Dobet Gnahore. Asa's performance left the fans cheering for more and, for the first time at the MTN Bushfire festival, on Sunday evening the main arena was still packed as all waited to see the legendary Tsepo Tshola's performance. He came on and closed the festival on a high.

Some acts performed on various other stages at the Festival, such as the Amphitheater Stage, the super-energetic Firefly Stage and The Barn. Artists who performed at the Amphitheatre Stage included Sereetsi & The Natives, Buddy Masango, Alibombo, Dope Saint Jude, Morena Leraba, Rob Van Vuuren, Ain Themachine, Bashayi Bengoma, Smiles Makama, Maputo Electronico, Aramboa, Lizzy, Puts Marie, Invizible and DJ Mbali. Artist who were blazing on the Firefly Stage were DJ Lu, Dane The Ambitious, Steez, Supa CDQ, DJ Bubbles, M-Tonic, Lady Zee, J Molley, DJ Mkay, Sarnilo, Lindelwa, Speech Umlangeni, DJ Swizz, Karyndasoul, Harristheiner, Sooks and Zethu Mzileni. The Barn hosted performances by the Mbuluzi Blues Band, Hanwah, Cook Off, Menes La Plume, Make Overs, Mysh and What We Are.

Most festival attendees left already looking forward to the festival’s next edition, set to take place over the weekend of 29-31 May 2020.