.....Over 10k people expected for this year’s edition
This year’s festival comes with a clear shift in scale. For the first time, Luju will run over two full days, and the music programme reflects that expansion with a broader, more diverse roster of performers drawn from across the continent and the region.
Among the headline acts is South African kwaito veteran Zola 7, whose catalogue of township anthems has remained influential across generations.
He is joined by award-winning trumpeter and composer Mandisi Dyantyis, known for his emotionally driven live performances and rich jazz storytelling.
Hip hop will also take centre stage with Nasty C, one of South Africa’s most globally recognised rap exports, while amapiano artist TMan Xpress adds a more recent sound shaping dance floors across Southern Africa.
The line-up continues to stretch across genres and borders, with Maskandi legend Shwi Mantombazane bringing traditional Zulu musical storytelling to the stage.
Soul duo Liquideep return with their signature blend of deep house and R&B, while Johannesburg-based artist Wandile Mbambeni adds a softer folk-country texture to the programme.
Jazz and experimental sounds feature through flautist and composer Vuyo Viwe, alongside singer Thando Zide, whose style blends African soul, jazz and contemporary R&B.
A special highlight will be a performance by the Masekela Band, made up of musicians who toured with the late Hugh Masekela during the final 15 years of his career. Their set is expected to pay tribute to his legacy while keeping his sound alive on stage.
Alternative rock group WONDERboom, marking three decades in the industry this year, will bring a high-energy performance to the festival, while pianist Kyle Shepherd and his trio will honour the work of Abdullah Ibrahim through a dedicated tribute set.
The festival also leans into cross-border collaboration, with Mozambique represented by Marrabenta singer Neyma and the Eswatini-Mozambique ensemble ka-Tembe Connexion. From Lesotho, singer Maleh will bring her Afro-soul sound shaped by Sotho folk and jazz influences.
Eswatini’s own presence is strongly reflected across the programme. Cece & Rina will present a joint performance, while Sancheziey, Bholoja, Mandisa Mamba, Judah Soul, Emagagu and Oriiginelle each bring different interpretations of Swazi contemporary and traditional sound.
Additional names will still be announced in the coming weeks, adding more layers to a programme that already stretches across genres, generations and regions.
The expanded two-day format gives the music programme more space to breathe, with performances expected to run across multiple stages and time slots throughout the weekend.
.....Over 10,000 visitors expected for Luju
More than 10,000 festivalgoers from over 26 countries are expected to attend the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival as it returns on August 1-2, marking the largest edition in the festival's eight-year history.
For the first time since its launch in 2018, Luju will run across two full days, giving visitors more time to experience its food, fashion, music and lifestyle programme while creating additional opportunities for traders, designers, chefs and performers.
Speaking during the official launch of the festival, Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta said Luju had become an important platform for showcasing Eswatini to regional and international visitors.
Mkhonta said the festival had grown beyond being a weekend celebration and had become a platform that introduces visitors to Eswatini's culture, creativity, hospitality and identity.
She added that this year's themes, Kwasukasukela (Once Upon a Time) and Nguni Foodways, reflect the growing demand among international travellers for authentic cultural experiences.
"Around the world, travellers are increasingly seeking authentic cultural encounters that allow them to connect with the history, traditions and identity of a destination," she said.
According to the minister, Luju transforms Eswatini's fashion, food, music and storytelling into a tourism experience that not only attracts visitors but also strengthens the country's cultural identity.
The expansion to a two-day festival is also expected to benefit the local economy by encouraging longer visitor stays and creating more opportunities for businesses operating within the tourism and creative sectors.
"The festival also demonstrates the important role that the combined industry of arts and tourism plays in creating economic opportunities for our people," Mkhonta said.
She noted that initiatives such as the Food and Fashion Indabas, the Grow Beyond Borders SME Seminar and the festival marketplace continue to open doors for entrepreneurs, artisans, designers and food producers to reach new markets and grow their businesses.
While preparations gather pace, organisers have already opened ticket sales, trader applications and media accreditation ahead of what is expected to be one of the festival's busiest editions yet.
