… Sunday session saw a delish display of food, crafts, fashion and music!
BY FIONA MOTSA
Mbabane- Serene art!
The Sundeck Rooftop at the Corporate Place in Mbabane had a very stylish, innovative and cool crowd during ‘The Kitchen’.
‘The Kitchen’ is a session where creatives meet to display their talent. It began in 2017 as a simple house party, hosted by a collective of artists including representatives from the Antidote Records. A stage was built in the kitchen of that house- hence the name ‘The Kitchen’.
The name also serves as a metaphor because it became a place to congregate, ‘cooking up’ new experiences and bringing together different ingredients.
Since then ‘The Kitchen’ has designed its stage to become mobile so as to expand and diversify its audience and network. Last year, ‘The Kitchen’ collaborated with Guba Farm’s ‘Makers Market’ to connect the youth to permaculture principles in action.
The goal to activate all major cities in the country took shape and form yesterday with the first edition of the Pop-Up activation. This is a five hour event where cross- platform creatives are brought together, facilitate collaboration, showcase locally made brands clothing, art, music and lastly curate and utilize the Pop-Up as a launching pad for creators.
Thee Platform is a full-service creative agency established in 2021 as a direct response to the lack of infrastructure within the local creative industries. Their main aim is to solve all problems creatives currently face by piloting solutions, building a community of like-minded individuals all working towards a common purpose.
Thee Platform management issued a statement, stating they were excited to finally announce their collaboration and strategic partnership with ‘The Kitchen’ family and to bring the first of its kind experience in the capital city by bringing energy and art.
The management said ‘The Kitchen’ had its own versatile aesthetic and sonic experience and together they could form something brand new.
“A core component of our collaboration is building and empowering young creatives in Eswatini as well as developing a community that creates opportunities for themselves. It is also an opportunity to meet, engage and interact with a plethora of creators, their products and value propositions,” said the statement.
The Kitchen’s Hanwah Johnson said collaborating with ‘Thee Platform’ made perfect sense and it was just a marriage waiting to happen.
“We share the same goals, dreams and intentions of building community through creative expression and nurturing a creative economy. We just want to make people happy, and light a fire in their hearts as they recognize their potential,” said Johnson.
‘The Kitchen’s’ house band ‘Dextas Jam Band’( Dexta-drums, Thando- keys, Tallman-keys and Ndura- bass) put into support featured artists Swiss and OG king. Both artists had never performed with a live band before and ‘The Kitchen’ was able to facilitate that which would be a learning experience for them.
Artists present at the The Kitchen were: Djs: Ohpis, BayBash, Oddjams, Hanwah, OG King, and Swiss,Malwande simelane, Nokubonga Hlophe, Ugaxo, Bhekilanga creations, Playdout, Keeper’s Club, Fibonacci apparel, Vintage Eswatini, Hunters of Swag, Benanial, Hlobsile Mkholo, Indigenous Africa, Statement pieces, Sneaker wash guy, Sunflower girl crafts, Ninjani Bakery.
