…We have our dancing shoes ready- DPM and Minister Tourism
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– It is almost that time of year where over 20 000 firestarters from across the world converge on the Malkerns Valley of Eswatini for a weekend of music, arts, activism, tolerance and celebration.
House on Fire Communications Officer Simon Dawson has announced that online tickets are now sold out and no tickets will be sold at the door.
Simon said however, Fire Starters in Eswatini can still purchase a limited number of Phase 2 Main Arena and Children’s tickets with MTN Mobile Money, via ‘MoMo Marketplace’ on WhatsApp.
Festival goers can simply send “hi” to 7808 4000 and follow the prompts. Camping tickets are still available for those who already have a festival ticket.
“MTN Bushfire 2023 will kick off early this year, with the campsite open for campers from Thursday, May 25th and the festival doors officially opening on Friday, May 26th and running through the weekend.
“For those with valid tickets, be sure to get the MTN Bushfire Festival App to plan your weekend experience; just download the Woov festival app platform from Google Play or App Store and follow MTN Bushfire. Please protect your ticket barcode from being copied and be careful of third-party ticket sellers as MTN Bushfire cannot be held responsible for fraudulent tickets,” said Simon.
Dawson further reminded people that camping opens tomorrow and they strongly advise fun lovers to arrive early to avoid delays at the border and to take note of the travel tips.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati revealed that their statistics showed that hotels and industry lodges were fully booked.
Vilakati said they were happy with the Nation’s response to the festival that seeks to promote tourism.
He said they have been made aware as Eswatini Tourism Authority (ETA) that some hotels and lodges in the country were already booked. He said this was impressive news to them.
He further urged emaSwati and International Festival-goers to continue going for the places that were not fully booked yet.
“We were so happy to learn that some hotels and lodges, especially located in the Malkerns’ surroundings, were the ones booked up,” he said.
Meanwhile, the statistics from MTN Bushfire last year show that the festival admitted 30 000 people from 55 countries.
His sentiments were echoed by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku who said he was ready for the event and encouraged others to do the same.
“Vilakati and I have our dancing shoes ready this is the biggest event and it is not only for fun but it is also life-changing for a number of people in the country,” he said.
Worth noting is that the 2023 edition will once again provide a range of musical, artistic and performance-based experiences, alongside meaningful conversations, installations, and activations, all created within the unique MTN Bushfire spirit of tolerance, inclusion, and sustainability.
Once again, the MTN Bushfire main stage will play host to some of Africa’s best-known and loved artists, as well as present a few surprises aimed to excite, inspire, and get the entire crowd on their feet.
MTN Bushfire 2023 will once again present a diversity of styles and sounds with artists such as Mokoomba (ZW), whose unique sound blends genres as diverse as Sungura, Reggae, Dancehall, Urban and Afro Jazz with traditional rhythms.
One of South Africa’s brightest and boldest stars, Sho Madjozi is an accomplished, multi-award-winning artist with audacious energy and a colourful aesthetic making for a powerful stage presence; and Jack Parow, rapper, poet and a South African Pop Culture Icon, and self-proclaimed “Undisputed King of Afrikaans Rap. Other Main stage artists include South Africa’s Desmond and the Tutus, Ami Faku, the award-winning musician, performer and songwriter, and one of the most important voices to come out of South Africa in the last few years, and the legendary Black Motion known for blending House music with lively indigenous percussion and multilingual vocals.
