BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival, is back for its 5th edition, a unique and sophisticated African-vintage-styled celebration of the local, the wholesome, the creative, and the delicious, truly a sensory experience.
The lavish two-day feast of music, fashion, entertainment, culinary exploits, and connoisseur-led premium wine and whiskey showcases, taking place in Eswatini on August 4-5, 2023.
They have since released the initial line up of artists that will be performing this regional and authentically local food and fashion festival that celebrates the local, the wholesome, the creative and the delicious, proudly showcasing the amazing, diverse tastes of Southern Africa.
House On Fire Communications Officer Simon Dawson said the 2023 edition, with the support of Standard Bank Eswatini, will be a uniquely Southern African affair.
He said that exciting food and fashion themes for The Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival have also been finalised with eclectic and innovative programmes being planned across the two-day event.
“These uniquely curated programmes will also once again be accompanied by the high-quality range of African and global sounds from top artists from the Southern African region and beyond,” he said.
In addition, he spoke of the Culinary Programme which will feature Chef Mokgadi Itsweng and Charcutier Richard Bosman from South Africa, as well as international wine judge Tinashe Nyamudoka from Zimbabwe.
Dawson said the Chefs from Eswatini include renowned Chef Malinga, as well as two competitors from last year’s Luju Pick n’ Pay Culinary Cook-Off: Chef Justina Bain and King Terry.
“Additionally, Luju will once again host an exciting range of music styles that reflect the festival’s growing regional and international footprint, with artists such as Mandisi Dyantyis, Lwazi Dlamini, The Joy, Painted Flowers, Lenna Buhule, Dusty and Stones and DJ Bob amongst others,” said Dawson
He said, a fantastic line-up of talented chefs, designers and musicians, as well as a host of new experiences to savour will be on offer this year.
Food is at the heart of the Luju experience, and the Culinary Programme will be spiced up with food showcases and demos from luminaries like Chef Mokgadi, and charcuterie Richard Bosman, both from South Africa, as well as internationally renowned wine judge Tinashe Nyamudoka, from Zimbabwe.
A Regional Fashion Showcase with designers from Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Mozambique is one of the highlights of the Fashion Programme and, of course, the music will set the tone with fantastic acts you can look forward to, such as acclaimed South African vocalists, trumpeters and musical director Mandisi Dyantyis, multi-Platinum-Award-winning South African Rap powerhouse Big Zulu, the much-beloved Mango Groove, whose uniquely eclectic Big Band.
