BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – South African radio and TV personality Kedebone Mkhabela of Rise FM and Mzwakhe Tjovitjo Khumalo have been unveiled as the MCs for the third edition of the Makoti Festival.
The Makoti Festival will be held on April 27 at the Malkerns Country Club. This was confirmed by Festival Director Thembinkosi Mthethwa.
Mkhabela works as a radio host for the Mpumalanga-based radio station (Rise FM). She is also a media personality, producer, philanthropist, entrepreneur, DJ, MC, and activist. Tjovitjo makes a return to the festival, as he was the MC last year.
He was nominated for South African-based awards, The Rise to Greater Height Retreat and Awards for MC of the Year, which will be held in KwaZulu (KZN) Natal in Durban North on August 24. He was also crowned Eswatini Creative Awards MC of the Year three years in a row, in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
The festival director also highlighted that the third edition of the festival will see 11 local artists take the stage. These are Mvelo, Lodanda Nemalangeni, Thobile Makhoyane, Bholoja, M Nation, DJ Cup, Tendeness, Jazz in Soul, Wassabee, Speech Umlangeni, and Khole.
The line-up so far includes Grammy Award winners for Best Global Music, South African singer and songwriter Nomcebo Zikode, Lesotho artists Mavele & Tash, DJ Menkoko,DJ Tseko, and Sotho Kids. Tchakaze and a dance group, Tufo Mafalala, from Mozambique. South African Gospel artists Ntokozo Mbambo, Masibuyele KuJehova, and Mthandeni SK.
It is worth mentioning that last year, the second edition of the Makoti Festival was held on April 22 at the Malkerns Country Club and was attended by thousands of fun lovers. The festival was made possible by New Life Entertainment, in partnership with the Illa Penboy Foundation.
The purpose of the family-oriented festival is to promote Eswatini culture. It is a celebration of modern women, in particular married or unmarried, and young girls who aspire to be proud makotis in the near future. The festival provides fashion stalls, food stalls, and live performances. The festival is known for celebrating trendy fashion for young and old women from different backgrounds.
