Beginning Again

With the MTN Bushfire, there is so much happening at once that no one person can honestly claim to have seen everything. One minute you're at the Main Stage, the next you're watching a performance you accidentally stumbled upon while looking for food or trying to find a charging point.

These are some of the performances that stayed with me from day one until day the almost half of day 3. They are not necessarily the biggest acts on the poster. They are simply the ones that left an impression. With me! 

YOUNG STUNNA – 9/10

Andiwele for real!  Young Stunna arrived looking every bit the star in a leather pants ensemble and immediately got to work. The South African vocalist, best known for hit records such as Adiwele and his contributions to the Amapiano movement, understood exactly what the audience wanted.

Disclaimer it was my first time seeing hime live. He was energetic, engaged and constantly interacting with the crowd. Every movement felt intentional. Every song had a response. What stood out most was how comfortable he looked on stage.

He even gave festivalgoers an extra ten minutes beyond his allocated set time. At some point the performance felt like prayer. Or maybe I was just high from Lobamba weed.

THOBILE MAKHAYONE – 10/10

I wasn't even looking for Thobile Makhayone. I stumbled upon her performance while walking through the festival grounds and ended up staying much longer than planned.

The celebrated local traditional musician delivered one of the most authentic performances I witnessed all weekend. Her use of indigenous instruments, traditional sounds and storytelling created an atmosphere that felt deeply rooted in culture while remaining accessible to a modern audience.There was something calming about her performance. 

SARNILO – 8/10

What an amazing vocalist. And sometimes a rapper, think Lauryn Hill. Sarnilo delivered one of the most complete performances I encountered at the festival. Her stage production was carefully put together, with every prop, movement and transition appearing well rehearsed and perfectly timed.

She commanded attention without forcing it. The vocals were strong, the energy remained consistent and the audience stayed locked in throughout. Next time, put her on the Main Stage.

!SOOKS – 10/10

I only managed to catch around ten minutes of !Sooks' set. Ten minutes. That was enough for me to name him performance of the night.  The artist closed the Main Stage and somehow left a lasting impression despite the limited time I spent there.

The energy was undeniable. The crowd was fully invested. There was a confidence and freedom to the performance that made it impossible to ignore.

All I remember thinking was 'Damn bro' 

UNCLE KARLY – 7/10

Opening for Young Stunna is not an easy task. Uncle Karly handled it well.

Known for his ability to keep crowds moving, the DJ once again demonstrated why he remains one of the country's most reliable performers. His transitions were smooth, the music selection made sense, and he understood how to build momentum before the main act. Not every performer needs fireworks. Sometimes consistency is enough.

IYA – 9/10

Next time I want my girl on the Main Stage. As an opening act. IYA delivered one of the strongest performances from an Eswatini artist throughout the weekend. Confident, energetic, and completely comfortable in front of an audience, she held people's attention from start to finish.

KLITGRAS DRUMMING – 10/10

I still need to do a proper deep dive into these guys. What I saw was enough to convince me that I should. I caught a glimpse of their performance after burning some greens and was immediately drawn in by the rhythm and musicianship on display.

The use of percussion and live instruments created a hypnotic atmosphere that felt both traditional and contemporary. Some performances entertain. Others pull you into a completely different space. This was one of those.

SIBU MANZINI – 10/10

OMG.

WTF.

What a soulful rendition. Sibu Manzini has long been respected for his musical abilities, but this performance reminded everyone exactly why. Every note was felt intentional. Every song carried emotion. The audience wasn't just listening. They were feeling it.

MOONCHILD SANELLY – 6/10

This one hurts.

Because I know how talented Moonchild Sanelly is. Her stage presence remains undeniable and she still knows how to command attention the moment she walks onto a stage. However I struggled with the amount of lip-syncing during the performance.

When you've travelled all the way to MTN Bushfire and built a reputation as one of South Africa's most exciting performers, expectations naturally become higher. The energy was there, I just wanted more live vocals.

UNCLE WAFFLES – 5/10

I love Uncle Waffles.

I genuinely do.

Her story, personality and rise to global stardom remain inspiring. And her stage presence is phenomenal. But if I'm being honest, I expected more from her Bushfire debut.

The set felt safe. The transitions felt familiar. The overall mix didn't quite reach the heights I  have seen from her international performances. Maybe the expectations were simply too high rom my side, maybe it was an off day. Either way, it felt slightly underwhelming compared to what we know she is capable of delivering.

SUMMER PEARL – 10/10

From the first note to the last, Summer Pearl held it down. The UK-based artist brought confidence, charisma, and impressive vocal ability to the festival's opening day.

Her crowd engagement was excellent, the transitions were smooth, and she never looked uncomfortable on stage. All this while performing in a bright orange halter dress.

The opening slot can be difficult because audiences are still arriving and finding their rhythm. Summer Pearl made sure nobody forgot her name.

Please note, the festival is not over yet and there are still performances left to witness. My ranking will probably change by Tuesday.

Amapiano reunion MTN Bushfire fans never got to see 

One of the biggest missed opportunities at MTN Bushfire 2026 may have happened behind the scenes. With both Young Stunna and Uncle Waffles appearing on the festival lineup, some Amapiano fans were left imagining what could have been if the two artists had shared a stage moment during the weekend.

The connection between the pair goes back several years to the viral rise of Young Stunna's hit song Adiwele, a record that played a major role in introducing both artists to wider audiences. The song became a national sensation in 2021 and gained even more momentum after videos of Uncle Waffles dancing and performing to it during her DJ sets spread across social media.

For many music fans, Adiwele became closely associated with Uncle Waffles' breakout moment as her popularity exploded across South Africa and beyond. The song itself went on to become one of Young Stunna's biggest records and helped establish him as one of Amapiano's leading voices.

When Young Stunna performed Adiwele at MTN Bushfire on Saturday night, the crowd response was immediate. Festivalgoers sang along loudly, turning the performance into one of the most energetic moments of the weekend.

That reaction only made the idea of a surprise Uncle Waffles appearance feel even more tempting. Of course, festival logistics are rarely that simple.

Uncle Waffles performed on Friday while Young Stunna took to the stage on Saturday. Both artists maintain demanding touring schedules and there is no indication that a joint appearance was ever planned.

Still, for a festival that celebrates collaboration and shared cultural moments, the possibility felt hard to ignore.

A brief appearance. A shared performance. Even a few minutes together during Adiwele could have created one of the festival's defining Amapiano moments.

Instead, MTN Bushfire audiences got two separate performances from two artists whose careers remain linked through one of the genre's most important songs. And maybe that's enough.

However, for a few minutes on Saturday night, as thousands of people shouted every word of Adiwele back at Young Stunna, it was difficult not to wonder what that moment would have looked like with Uncle Waffles standing beside him.