Food, music and love on charts
Weekend in eSwatini with DJ Ohpis and a line-up of top music makers, craftspeople and cooks
IT’S JUST one more weekend to go before we eat, sway and love at the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival on August 3 and 4.
The line-up for the two-day event boasts culinary flair, designer goodies and great music.
Swazi DJ Ohpis, who will be bringing his own mix of international sounds to the festival, told The Star what he has in mind for the event:
How did your career in music begin?
I got my break in Chicago. Studying and living in the US really opened me up to some amazing people, cultures and experiences. It was life-changing and gave me enough insight and curiosity to give deejaying and a purpose in music a try. My first time playing in a club in Chicago was in the spring of 2015 and that single moment was important in propelling me into doing more gigs publicly.
How has the reception to your music been?
When a crowd understands and responds to the music and vibes, that to me is the most fulfilling experience in this journey. So I could say reception depends on the type of event and crowd it attracts.
What are your expectations for the festival?
First, I’m expecting a larger-thanlife festival experience in my own backyard, eSwatini, which is really cool, knowing that the only other comparable event is Bushfire. I’m excited not only to attend, because there’s something liberating about the whole festival experience, but also to play there. I’m looking forward to observing and learning from some of the established and world-renowned acts there.
Are you working on any projects this year?
I’m part of this really cool collective from eSwatini that spans the world, MotherLand X (MLX). Part of my job is to share and infiltrate a lot of the camp’s music with people, whether it’s through digital marketing campaigns, or playing the music during my sets on platforms such as Bushfire and now the Luju fest.
It’s a task I take pride in. I release mixes and in them try to seamlessly incorporate music from local producers…
As for my own projects, I’m trying to field record and collect as many sounds as possible of my surroundings here in eSwatini. I’m hoping one day to use those in my own productions…
Set amid the House on Fire Sculpture Garden in eSwatini, just a fourhour drive from Joburg at the home of the MTN Bushfire Festival, this is a not-to-be missed event for food enthusiasts, culture buffs and travellers.
For more information, to purchase tickets and for accommodation, see www.lujufestival.com