The 2024 edition of the MTN Bushfire Festival was a tremendous success, with each year’s edition becoming bigger and better, thanks to the support of the thousands of Fire Starters who bring their fire every year.
MTN Bushfire extends its thanks to the over 23,000 guests in attendance who represented close to 50 countries. They experienced 282 artists in 96 unique acts, from 15 different countries across the globe, over the course of the three-day festival – a true reflection of unity in diversity and the bringing to life of MTN Bushfire’s guiding principles of inclusion, tolerance, and celebration through the arts.
A broad range of new innovations and festival experiences were developed this year, which supported an increase in the amount of trade at the festival. MTN Bushfire continued to prioritise local business, with 90% Eswatini representation in the trading areas. The 112 traders generated a combined total of E9,507,606, up from E7,355,729.15 last year.
In line with the festivals continuous and conscious efforts to remain a sustainable and responsible event, MTN Bushfire 2024 greened its fire spectacularly, with 76% of the 35.98 metric tonnes of festival waste being recycled, including 310 litres of used cooking oil recycled into biofuel and over 7 tonnes of food waste turned into compost.
Festival waste management was accomplished by 159 staff, collecting and sorting the waste for recycling and composting, while over 450 security personnel per day ensured festivalgoers’ safety. Health and medical staff for the festival numbered 64, with ambulances onsite at all times.
The music was everything the audience could expect it to be, with powerful performances by the artists. Some of the highlights this year included Amadou & Mariam, whose pioneering fusion of West African music with Rhythm and Blues helped define a generation of African musicians. Fire Starters also enjoyed a powerful show from South Africa’s Bongeziwe Mabandla, as well as Thandiswa Mazwai, on Saturday night, and a massive, electrifying closing set from Makhadzi on Sunday night. The Ballantine’s Firefly stage pumped non-stop with incredible acts like Da Capo and Daliwonga, who brought the house down in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The House On Fire Amphitheatre was opened by Malawian duo Madalitso, bringing a fresh new and uplifting sound that made for the perfect set to start off the weekend, while Eswatini’s beloved country duo Dusty & Stones added to the festivities with their toe-tappin’ country songs reverberating through the audience.
Avant garde musicians Fetén Fetén from Spain, visionary saxophonist Camilla George and Grammy winners Blue Lab Beats from the UK, as well as Oddisee from the US, were just some of the incredible international acts.
The acrobatic performances from The Cirk wowed the crowd in the main arena, while interactive activities such as the Klitsgras Drumming session started off Saturday morning with a set that had the entire Amphitheatre resonating together in harmony, as young and old alike played to the beat of the drums.
MTN Bushfire’s clarion call to take positive action for social and environmental sustainability, Bring Your Fire, came to life in every aspect of the festival. This was especially manifested in the United Nations Bring Your Fire Zone, which had 13 advocacy stalls, a mobile clinic, as well as a café and bar, all supported by 7 United Nations agencies. Eswatini Minorities won the free stall for their impactful work in Eswatini.
The United Nations Broadcast Corner, where festivalgoers and partners had the opportunity to explain what ‘Bring Your Fire’ means to them, hosted 41 interviewees, including the Honourable Prime Minister of Eswatini, Russell Dlamini, who commented on the value of the festival to the nation.
The 13th edition of the European Union Bushfire Schools Festival, held the day before the main MTN Bushfire festival, saw over 600 pupils, teachers and government officials come together to experience the transformative power of the arts and showcase their many talents. The Schools Festival ended with a song created by the pupils, titled ‘United in Diversity’.
This year’s edition of the annual MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table (ART) brought together 22 international and over 100 music industry delegates from Eswatini. In partnership with Africa Rising Music Conference, industry experts from around the globe were brought together to exchange creative industry best practices and explore opportunities for the local creative economy.
The official 2024 Festival Video is now available for viewing on the MTN Bushfire YouTube Channel.
The dates for the next edition of MTN Bushfire have been confirmed for 30 May – 1 June 2025, and all details will be available on the festival website, www.bush-fire.com, in due course
