Bushfire festival: a great time for a very good cause
WINNER of the African Best Responsible Event Award in 2017, MTN Bushfire has been hailed by CNN as one of the “7 African music festivals you really have to see” and listed by BBC as a “Top African Festival”.
MTN Bushfire is a uniquely African, and yet globally infused, festival experience that welcomes thousands of people in an atmosphere of tolerance and passionate commitment to music, the arts, and the environment.
From May 25 to 27, MTN Bushfire encourages everyone, from guests and artists to traders and vendors, to BRING YOUR FIRE to the beautiful Malkerns valley in Swaziland. Your Fire is your energy, your spirit, your passion, and your drive to make a difference. For those unsure of just how to #BRINGYOURFIRE in 2018, MTN Bushfire is pleased to announce the official Bring Your Fire Zone, an interactive space devoted to specialized activities where all guests can create and share their own #BRINGYOURFIRE experiences.
The Bring Your Fire Zone will present tangible opportunities to engage within the key themes for 2018. No less than eight partner organisations will bring the following themes to life at this year’s event: environmental sustainability; STEM Education (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics); tolerance and inclusion; sexual and reproductive health; orphans and vulnerable children; rural development. Every visitor will have the opportunity to take part in a host of #BRINGYOURFIRE activations that include the following:
GREEN YOUR FIRE!
As a green festival, MTN Bushfire continues to aim for a minimal global footprint across its various strands and has renewed its commitment to being an eco-friendly event.
PLANT A TREE
This year people will have the opportunity to engage in the protection and promotion of indigenous trees by participating in the 2018 Khula Planting Tree Project.
MAKE MUSIC
Conservation Music is an organisation that uses music to engage communities across southern Africa in environmental projects and awareness. In addition to hosting a studio where guests can add their voices to various tracks, Conservation Music will be offering guests a variety of ways to get involved.
RAINBOW FIRE!
MTN Bushfire has always celebrated tolerance, diversity and inclusion. In 2018, the focus is on LGBT rights, gender equality and the rights for sexual and reproductive health and freedom. A host of experts and organisations from within the LGBT space will present a space to celebrate inclusion. From poetry slams and discussion at the new venue The Hub, to social and photo booth activations, everyone is invited to take part.
POETRY & PERFORMANCE
MTN Bushfire is also very excited to announce a performance from Staceyann Chin, multiple award winning poet and performer. Winner of the 2013 American Heritage Award from American Immigration Council, and the 2016 Planned Parenthood Excellence in Media award, Chin is also a 2017 LGBTQ Humanist Award recipient. She unapologetically identifies as Caribbean and Black, Asian and lesbian, woman and resident of New York City. A proud Jamaican national, Staceyann’s voice was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where she spoke candidly about her experiences and the dire consequences of her coming-out there.
CONDOMISE!
Condomise will be back at MTN Bushfire in 2018, once again sharing information on sexual and reproductive health. In addition to information and product distribution, Condomise will offer HIV counselling and related services, and host a number of conversations through educational and entertaining games and activations.
MENTOR A MALE
Kwakha Indvodza is a male mentoring organisation that runs community-led, health and behaviour change interventions interventions with men and boys. KI will present its materials as well as take part in training over 120 staff. Local guests can also find out more about ways to get involved in mentoring young men in order to promote gender equality and a more just Swazi society.
BE A FIRESTARTER
Just by purchasing a ticket to MTN Bushfire, guests are supporting Young Heroes. MTN Bushfire gives back to the organisation from every ticket purchased. This deep partnership dates back to the very first MTN Bushfire. Since then, the festival and its partners have donated over R1.6-million, enabling Young Heroes to provide food and clothing to over 1 000 orphans. Activators from Young Heroes will discuss those issues with festival goers.