Poetic Justice
The muse may slumber, but it rarely abandons its chosen. After a year-long hiatus performing poet Festival B celebrates penning poems and spitting words again.
Sometimes, the universe has a way of bringing things full circle, words never really left him. Even when he was not performing, they stayed close showing up in thoughts, journals, old receipts, WhatsApp notes he never sent.
For over a year, he kept them to himself, quiet about the poems, the comebacks, the things he still wanted to say. But now he’s back. And this time, he’s not whispering.
'Festival B' as most people know him has returned to the poetry scene with the same charm, humour and stage presence that made him one of the most exciting performers to watch.
You’ll spot him by the mic, palms slightly raised, voice steady, bars tighter than ever.
Having started performing and writing his own poems in 2018, his modus operandi of turning words into slaves, claps into waves has earned him the name ‘Umgcilati Magama’.
His love story with poetry started back in high school, in a Form 3 English class. He came across a book called ‘When Fishes Flew and Other Poems’. There was this one poem ‘The Passionate Shepherd to His Love’ and something just clicked. He started writing that same day.
He thought he would be a rapper. But the flow didn’t fit him. “It was embarrassing. Poetry gave me more freedom. I didn’t have to follow the beat. I could just speak.”
His first time on stage was in 2018 at Duze High. He was 17, nervous, unsure but the crowd responded with a standing ovation. That moment sealed everything.
If you have been lucky to witness Festival perform then you know his rich words, the charm that rolls off his tongue and the play on words that mixes both Siswati and English.
For years, Festival stuck to live performances, turning every show into a kind of homecoming. His poems were never just for performance, they were testimony.
The type of lines that didn’t need backup singers. Just breath, rhythm, and honesty.
Now, for the first time, he’s ready to record. He wants people to hear his poems even when he is not around. At 2 a.m., 5 a.m. when they need them most.
He credits his style to staying true to himself. Festival writes what he likes not chasing anyone’s approval not following trends just being him, an eloquent performer topped with poetic flair.
His raw, funny, reflective voice has carried him this far. And it’s what will carry him forward. When asked what makes him stand out from other poets, he says, without hesitation, authenticity not trying to be deep but real.
He’s not just writing again. He’s building. Slowly, surely, and with intention. The highly nominated Poet covers a variety of themes when curating his poetry. From death, love, racism and police brutality among others.
“Oppression, man is oppressed , man oppresses man,” is one of his lines in dedication to George Floyd, an African-American man who died in police custody, sparking widespread protests.
In between the performances and planning, Festival B still finds time to read. His top five? The Bible, Animal Farm, I Write What I Like, Conversations With Myself, and any Danielle Steel book.
He looks up to M Age Lepoet and Poet TK, two local artists who paved the way. TK helped him when he was starting and he swears everyday he will never forget that.
Festival dreams of bigger stages, wider reach but still believes in home.
“Eswatini has potential. We just need to stop thinking small. We’re not just artists for this place, we're for the world.” he has said time and again.
Siphesihle Festival Dlamini is writing again. This time, we’re listening.
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