Arts Writer
LAUDED by CNN as one of the “7 African music festivals you really have to see”, and most recently named as BBC’s Top African Festival, MTN Bushfire is Swaziland’s acclaimed music and arts festival that celebrates creative expression whilst promoting social responsibility, stimulating the economy and drawing talent and tourists from across the world.
The artist line-up will feature artists from across southern Africa and the globe. Mali’s world-music stars Songhoy Blues have been confirmed for the main stage. Though their music bears elements of contemporary rock and hip hop, at its heart is a deep attachment to the home-grown songs and dances of Mali’s Songhoy people, as well as to such iconic west African guitar heroes as Baba Salah and Ali Farka Touré.
Their debut album has been described by NME as “a masterpiece of desert blues, blending American guitar licks with Malian grooves.” Formed from the adversity of Mali, Songhoy Blues’ music is full of northern flavours: Gao takamba, Touareg guitar, Songhoy trance and traditional desert melodies. But all those tired old ‘world music’ prejudices have no place here. Songhoy Blues are four guys, guitar, drums, bass and vocals, driving rhythms, big hearts and a big story to tell.
Also confirmed is new South African collaborative outfit Bombshelter Beast, featuring Pitch Black Afro. This group of renegades is wanted by Interpol’s jazz police for their genre breaking eclectic fusion of Afrikaans-jazz-Afro-rap. Their ever-changing line-up includes jazz artists and for their MTN Bushfire 2016 performance, will feature Pitch Black Afro.
Mafikizolo has also been confirmed. And joining these initial confirmed artists is Pablo Nouvelle, a film-maker and musician from Switzerland who takes soul “back to the future” with a combination of new sounds and old samples.
Manu Delago, an Austrian percussionist and composer, best known as Bjork’s hang drummer, will also perform alongside saxophonist and clarinet player Pepe Auer.
South African artists confirmed include Native Young, Nomadic Orchestra, Felix Laband, and Toby2Shoes. Acts from Swaziland are Bholoja, Nomzamo Zaza Dlamini & Fanaza. Further acts are being finalized and more artists will be confirmed in the build-up.
Each year a multi-generational global community of more than 20 000 “bring their fire” to the scenic farmlands of the Malkerns Valley to experience the three-day event.
Whilst the showcase is most well-known as southern Africa’s most diverse world music festival, it is also an arts and culture festival. The event includes contemporary and traditional visual and performing arts, cultural activities including a compelling line-up of theatre, poetry, dance, art exhibits & installations, story-telling, puppetry, film, as well as themed workshops and design installations – making it fun for the whole family.
The event also boasts a craft food market, a regional design and hand-made speciality goods market, as well as family-friendly camping, performances and the KidZone.
Over the past decade, MTN Bushfire has continually brought its fire with a percentage of profits supporting local charities including Young Heroes, an initiative that supports over 1 000 AIDS orphans. With its extensive schools and artist outreach into Swaziland and a focus on local participation, MTN Bushfire hopes to serve “as a living, breathing, creative ecosystem.”
There are a variety of ticketing options, including tickets with or without camping, full festival or day passes, and other options. Visit the website to view all the options available at early bird special prices.
l Early-bird discounts: www.bush-fire.com, www.facebook. com/MTNBushfire