BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The theme for this year’s Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival launch is ‘Design Gastronomy and African Fashion Folktales in the Fashion Arena.’
The theme was announced last Friday at the official launch of the Luju Festival, announcing it was Culinary Curator Nozipho Thorne. Luju Festival will take place on August 4-5 2023.
She also mentioned that this year the focus will be on Mozambique.
“A Return to the African Future’ finds expression in the two main themes this year. Of course, we are celebrating our African heritage in style. This will be an event to dress up for, and we cannot wait to see you in your finest fit,” said Thorne.
She elaborated and said they hope patrons would join them on the weekend of August 4 to 5 to eat delicious food, sway to talented artists from all over the region, and love the fashions on display.
Luju is a glam artistry two-day feast of culinary exploits, high-end fashion, connoisseur-led showcases, and Afro-centric music.
It is also worth mentioning that the unique and sophisticated African-vintage-style celebration of the local, the wholesome, the creative, and the spirit of this festival is encapsulated in the Luju Ethos of ‘A Return to the African Future’, which celebrates Africa’s beauty and style, from the past to the present and onwards to the future.
Special guests in attendance at the launch were; the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga, the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati; Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament Marwick Khumalo; Standard Bank Chief Executive Mvuselelo Fakudze; members of the Diplomatic Corps, Indvuna yeNkhundla Lobamba Lomdzala; and Mphiyakhe Fakudze.
The Standard Bank CEO said people will recall that after a hiatus in 2020, the Luju Festival was the first major event to open up the Eswatini Arts and entertainment sector in November 2021.
“We believe that Eswatini is our home, and we drive her growth. We will always be grateful for the faith His Majesty’s government placed in the festival during that time. Standard Bank, together with our partners, is committed to continuing to support the local creative economy in a sustainable and inclusive manner.” he said.
Fakudze said this year they have invited their counterparts from Lesotho, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa to also showcase their creative entrepreneurship and brands at the festival. Fakudze went on to say that in the growth of the festival into a truly aspirational event, they have taken note of the diverse needs of their He concluded by saying that they were once again excited to partner with House on Fire in bringing a festival that has put the country on the map and brought together thousands of attendants in previous years from across the country and beyond our borders.
