MTN Bushfire online tickets sold out

MBABANE – Two days to go!

,t’s almost time, that time of year where over 20 000 firestarters from across the world converge at the Malkerns 9alley of (swatini for a weekend of music, arts, activism, tolerance and celebration.

MTN Bushfire 2023 will kick off early this time around, with the campsite open for campers from Thursday and the festival doors officially opening on Friday and running through the weekend.

This publication spoke to the Festival Director -iggs Thorne, and he shared that online tickets are now sold out and no tickets will be sold at the door. ³+owever, Fire Starters in (swatini can still purchase a limited number of Phase 2 main arena and children’s tickets with MTN Mobile Money, via µMoMo Marketplace’ on :hatsApp. Simply send µhi’ to and follow the prompts. Camping tickets are still available for those who already have a festival ticket,´ said Thorne.

Platform

+e went on to say that for those with valid tickets, be sure to get the MTN Bushfire Festival App to plan the weekend e[perience. ³-ust download the :oov festival app platform from Google Play or App Store and follow MTN Bushfire. Please protect your ticket barcode from being copied and be careful of third party ticket sellers as MTN Bushfire cannot be held responsible for tickets.´

Thorne also reminded the public that camping opens on Thursday and they strongly advise those attending to arrive early to avoid delays at the border gate and to take note of the travel tips hWWSs ZZZ.bush-ILre.com SODQ\our-mWQ-bushILre-e[SerLeQceQoZ

,t’s worth mentioning that the 2023 edition, will once again provide a range of musical, artistic and performance based e[periences, alongside meaningful conversations, installations, and activations, all created within the unique MTN Bushfire spirit of tolerance, inclusion, and sustainability.

Once again, the MTN Bushfire main stage will play host to some of Africa’s best known and loved artists, as well as presenting a few surprises aimed to e[cite, inspire, and get the entire crowd on their feet. MTN Bushfire 2023 will once again present a diversity of styles and sounds with artists such as Mokoomba =: , whose unique sound blends genres as diverse as Sungura, 5eggae, Dancehall, 8rban and Afro -azz with traditional rhythms and contemporary =imrock one of South Africa’s brightest and boldest stars, Sho MadMozi is an accomplished, multi award-winning artist with audacious energy and a colourful aesthetic, making for a powerful stage presence and -ack Parow, rapper, poet and a South African Pop Culture ,con, and self-proclaimed ³8ndisputed .ing of Afrikaans 5ap.

Award-winning

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Other main stage artists include SA’s Desmond and the Tutus, Ami Faku, the award-winning musician, performer and songwriter, and one of the most important voices to come out of South Africa in the last few years ,and the legendary Black Motion known for blending +ouse music with lively indigenous percussion and multilingual vocals.

Thorne went on to say ³Be sure not to miss Angolan singer Pongo whose hybrid sounds mi[ .uduro, Melancholic Pop, Dancehall and (DM with lyrics both in Portuguese and .imbundu i

The +ouse on Fire ampitheatre is an awe-inspiring performance area with a distinctly unique flavour at its core. A sunken µAfro-Shakespearean Globe Theatre’ that houses a range of thought-provoking entertainment, including music, poetry, theatre and dance, it provides a more intimate setting for artists and audience. Discover hidden gems with eclectic and engaging artists from around the world including 5umbo Tumba is a one-man orchestra, playing, recording and mi[ing an array of e[clusively artisanal wooden instruments native to South America Aka .elzz, a Berlin-based singer-songwriter Sc~ru Fitchidu who represents a direct reference to both Cape 9erdean music and African matri[, within punk aesthetics and disruptive electronics and -avier Dtez (na, a double bass player, thereminist and electronic musician, who plays the theremin or etherphone, the oldest surviving electronic instrument in the world, which is played through electric signals without physical contact.

Host

The +OF will also play host to comedy with internationally renowned stand-up comedian Daliso Chaponda who shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, making it to the final of the 2017 series and establishing himself as a firm favourite with the Mudges and the public. µ,mbilini« my friend ’, a brand new South African play, written and performed by Bulelani Mabutyana, along with Siphenathi Mayekiso, directed by the award-winning Mdu .weyama will also be performed on the +OF Stage.

The Ballantine’s Firefly Stage will see some of Africa’s coolest D-s performing throughout the weekend in an e[plosive, engaging and high-energy space to dance the weekend away. A melting pot of diverse talent, both local and international, showcase their skills and bring you the very best that (lectronic, +ouse and Amapiano have to offer.

Sets will include D- 9, a dynamic and versatile +ip-+op D- and the ’queen of bangers’ who unleashes a relentless stream of µbangers’ that will set the dance floor ablaze with her electrifying presence and impeccable mi[ing skills .reative Nativez, a duo of Producer Dfrom /usaka in =ambia Abby Nurock =A , one of the few female vinyl D-s. South African D- and Producer .abza De Small as well as D-, record producer, singer and dancer M|rda, best known for being a former member of the musical band Black Motion are also featured in this year’s line-up.

(swatini’s own Speech 8mlangeni is a house music D- and producer specializing in Afro-+ouse, Tribal, Techno and Old School +ouse music. Other local D-s taking the stage will include Slotta who offers a musical escape to a place of harmonic solace, D- Mseto, an (swatini born house music D-, producer, graphics designer, compiler house music activist, D- Fantasy, conscious rap musician Blue -ay,

,nternational D-s from around the globe are also in the line-up, including Megatronic, a culture producer, D- and music enthusiast from the 8., Finland’s 9enior who mi[es wild, e[perimental beats with heavy bass sounds, powerful vocals and from the Caribbean, Gwada Mike, whose sets often bring a mi[ of Caribbean sounds blended with urban tracks.

Other event highlights include a diverse range of activations and performances including comedy, panel conversations, live muralists and more. Those campers at the All Out Camp Site can also take part in the All Out Campsite Gym, where fitness gurus will be running a series of free classes from 6am-10am on Saturday 27th and Sunday, May 28 in the mornings.

Storytelling

Don’t forget MTN Bushfire is also family friendly and the .id=one in 2023 is the space where young firestarters can run free in this secure adventurous space filled with stimulating and fun-filled activities ranging from storytelling, sculpting and music workshops to high-energy lawn games. (ach year, the festival works with a special theme for the .id=one that inspires creativity, engagement and skills development for young people of all ages, overseen by e[perienced, vetted child-care workers.

There are also daily performances and activities in the 8N (swatini supported, µBring

The full festival line-up and all other information can be found on the website, ZZZ. bush-fire.com

(Courtesy pics) Ami Faku. Lution.