EAT SWAY LOVE !

By Mrs M

The Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival has officially launched its full programme for the 2025 edition, which will take place on August 1-2  at House On Fire in the Kingdom of Eswatini. 

Now in its 7th year, the festival continues to highlight African food, fashion, music and culture through a curated programme themed 'The Forgotten Seeds'

This year’s event offers a two-day, family-friendly experience grounded in African traditions and modern creativity. Here is what to expect across the different segments of the festival.

Culinary Programme

The culinary experience focuses on sustainable practices and indigenous food knowledge. It includes live demonstrations, storytelling and wine tastings.

Onezwa Mbola, a rural food advocate from South Africa, will present on traditional food economies and the importance of investing in community-based food systems.

Roushanna Gray of Veld and Sea will lead foraging sessions, exploring seasonal cooking using local wild ingredients.

Zukisani Mrwetyana from Masipheke Cuisine will collaborate with ceramicist Andile Dyalvane in a clay silo cooking demonstration that blends traditional cooking with art.

Saskia Lesch, an award-winning sommelier, will return with her popular wine pairing and blind tasting sessions in the KWV Wine Saloon.

The culinary zone will also feature the Farm to Fork Cookoff, Culinary Hives with over 40 food traders, and an interactive Food Indaba discussing food sovereignty and seed preservation.

Fashion Programme

The fashion element of the festival, themed “Threads of Time,” celebrates African textile heritage and sustainable design.

South African designer Thula Sindi will showcase an exclusive collection and host a talk on growing African fashion businesses.

A range of Eswatini-based designers will present collections at the Mastercard Luju Fashion Show, including:

Kwenzie Zwane of Black Degree

Seluliwe Mdluli of Crochet by Selu

Maureen Massingue of Kotini Kouture

Nothando Dlamini of Rose Peti

Madoda Vilakati of Ruff Cut

Fortunate Mdluli of Kayses Creations

Sthembile Masuku of The House of Dandy in collaboration with Dala Spaces.

Each designer brings a unique take on contemporary African fashion, using traditional methods and materials in modern ways.

Music Programme

The music line-up brings together artists from Eswatini, South Africa, Mozambique and beyond, covering a wide range of genres including Afro-Soul, Amapiano, Jazz and Afro-Pop.

Headline acts include:

Blaq Diamond (South Africa) – supported by Mastercard

Lady Zamar (South Africa) – supported by Stella Artois

Buhlebendalo, formerly of The Soil

TKZee, known for their classic Kwaito hits

Lwah Ndlunkulu, Nomfundo Moh, Phila Dlozi, and Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse

Artists from Eswatini include:

Sands, Sibu Manzini featuring Velemseni,

Diba Diba, 

Qibho Intalektual, 

Bholoja, 

Khole & Zinia

Floewe & Dusty & Stones performing as The Feather Dusters

iYA, Tendaness, 

Ndumz, 

Tribal Natives

International acts also include Xixel Langa from Mozambique and Amigo da Casa, a Swati-Canadian multi-instrumentalist.

Tickets

Tickets are available online at www.lujufestival.com, through Standard Bank branches in Mbabane, Ezulwini and Manzini, or via the Unayo Marketplace on WhatsApp (send “Hi” to 7805 6364). Local patrons can also purchase from Dala Spaces at Malandela’s Lifestyle in Malkerns.

Ticket prices range from E600 to E2,600 with discounted options for children. Festivalgoers can pre-load Top-Up funds when purchasing tickets to avoid queues at the event.

For more information and the latest updates, visit www.lujufestival.com or follow @lujufestival on social media.