MTN Bushfire is excited to unveil the second line-up of artists who will be setting the stages ablaze at the 17th edition of the festival taking place from 31 May to 2 June, 2024 at House On Fire in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The festival’s line-up is loved by Fire Starters from all over the world for its multicultural, eclectic mix of top music talents and exciting discoveries of artists and genres that amaze and inspire. Discovering new artists and music styles is one of the highlights of every MTN Bushfire weekend. Further artist announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
Following the recent announcement of a range of celebrated global artists, and the confirmation of Nigerian artist Nneka as the headline act, MTN Bushfire has released another list of confirmed artists, who exemplify the festival’s conscious celebration of diversity, spirit of social inclusion and atmosphere of tolerance inspired by its call to action, Bring Your Fire.
South Africa’s vocal powerhouses will steal hearts with magical performances, beginning with the incomparable Lloyiso whose inspirational and relatable songs convey pure emotion. In welcome contrast, the rebellious, spiritually inspired concoctions brewed by BCUC – Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness – will take you on a journey informed by their home-grown sounds of Soweto down the ages. Insightful lyricist Muzi is a transcendent storyteller who intertwines his deepest, most personal vulnerabilities into his genre-blending music. From Cape Town we have Luukhanyo & The Hii Rollers. Luukhanyo is known for his unapologetically authentic song writing and seamlessly blended elements of contemporary RnB, Hip-Hop, Funk, and Jazz.
Jazzing things up from the UK are Camilla George and Blue Lab Beats whose performances are supported by a dynamic partnership between pioneering grassroots jazz organisation, Jazz re:freshed and South African creative agency, The Dig.
Camilla George is a visionary saxophonist, composer, bandleader and innovator from the UK with a unique, hynotising blend of Afrofuturism, Hip Hop and Jazz. Her music is informed by a powerful connection to her Nigerian identity, lineage and heritage, as well as her love of fusing African and Western music.
Blue Lab Beats is one of the fastest-rising production duos in the world right now, with over 50 million streams. Consisting of ground-breaking producer, NK-OK, and the formidable multi-instrumentalist, Mr. DM, the duo recently won a Grammy for their production on Angelique Kidjo’s track ‘Fired Up’ on her Mother Nature LP, which won Best Global Music Album.
MTN Bushfire is a place where people and cultures come together as embodied by Seba Kaapstad, a multi-national Neo-Soul quartet based in Cape Town, who conjure beatific grooves that radiate the polyrhythmic essence of Africa, inspiring unity and healing. Their performance is supported by the Goethe-Institut. Radio Sechaba is the brainchild of critically acclaimed pianist, composer and South African producer Bokani Dyer, reflecting his deep interest in nation building, unity and identity. From the vibrant, pumping music scene in Tanzania, ferocity and passion combine with Kadilida & Jay Mitta, who bring us their take on the intoxicating and irresistible African rave genre, Singeli.
As a multi-disciplinary festival, MTN Bushfire is proud to present one of this year’s multi-media treats, The Native Practices of Mozambique. This audio-visual event by Matchume Zango presents a renewed version of the songs, dances and rites of the traditional Bantu people of Mozambique. Matchume is well known in the Southern African region for his spectacular Timbila and dance shows. More cross-border and cross-genre artists on the line-up include The Congo Cowboys, who blend the twangy sounds of American Roots music with the rich rhythms of African traditional music.
Madalitso are a Malawian street duo that will make you clap, dance, smile, and dance some more! It’s been an extraordinary few years for this dance folk duo who, until 2017, hadn’t left their native Malawi but who have now toured Africa and Europe extensively.
Eswatini born singer and composer, Jazz P, will take us on a musical journey that explores femininity, spirituality, love and life. Other acts from Eswatini include Hanwah & Friends, consisting of pianist, vocalist and producer originally from the UK, Hanwah, who is on a dedicated musical journey with talented musicians in Eswatini and beyond. Best known for her captivating lyrics and versatility, Sarnilo smoothly incorporates both Siswati and Chichewa in a fusion of Afro-Soul and Hip Hop.
Additionally, MTN Bushfire fans can expect the usual diversity of performances that include cultural performances, spoken word, family friendly activities, dance and, of course, the ever-popular aartisanal Barn Marketplace, Global Food Village, and KidZone, as well as an invigorated Bring Your Fire Zone for interactive social and environmental advocacy.
Tickets can be purchased from the MTN Bushfire website, where glamping, camping and travel options can also be found, or with MTN Mobile Money via MoMo Marketplace on WhatsApp (Eswatini only). To learn more please visit the MTN Bushfire website, https://www.bush-fire.com, and look out for further acts to be announced @mtnbushfire on the all-in-one chat and music app Ayoba, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.