BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – If Pastor Benjamin Dube’s social media platforms are anything to go by, the singer is ready and amped up for this coming Saturday in the country.
Dube will be headlining MTN iPraise, Eswatini’s premium annual gospel music festival, which was launched at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini.
The Launch marked the official start of activities leading up to the event which will take place at Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre on July 29, 2023.
This year’s event holds the theme “Praise in Colour” which will see the organisers create an outdoor gospel carnival experience for the whole family.
On his Instagram, Benjamin Dube posted a two-minute long video, where he and his team were in full practice and making sure everything chord and beat is in order.
“I’m ready to be in Eswatini and in colour, I cannot wait to praise and worship with everyone. Make sure you get your ticket and let us meet there,” said Dube in an Instagram post yesterday.
Worth mentioning is that In attendance at the launch were several key stakeholders in the Eswatini gospel music and arts industry including Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries Madze Bulunga, Tom Lin Director of Destiny Group and the founder of MTN iPraise.
This year, MTN iPraise will feature the multi-award-winning Spirit of Praise featuring Benjamin Dube, Omega, Takie Ndou, Dumi Mkokstad and Women in Praise.
Local talent will also join the line-up and will be announced in the festival’s 2nd phase. The third line-up announcement will be a nomination and voting process which was carried out for another three spots on the MTN iPraise lineup.
These artists will remain unknown until the nomination and voting process closes as these are solely in the hands of Eswatini’s gospel fans.
Nominations opened on 21 April and closed on 5 May 5, 2023. This was followed by the announcement of the Top 10.
Tickets cost E200 for adults and E100 for kids. Early bird tickets are E180 for adults and E80 for kids. VIP tickets cost E500. Tickets can be bought via Momo MarketPlace, MTN’s ticket sales platform.
While on Benjamin Dube, the man of God is a South African gospel recording artist who rose to fame in the early 80s. Over the years he has released several albums which have reached gold and platinum status in the South African music rankings. Dube is also a lead pastor of the High Praise Centre in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg. The gospel-music powerhouse has been praising and worshipping in South Africa for decades, Benjamin Dube has been able to spread his messages of joy, love, and faith far beyond his borders.
