By Nosipho Mabuza (Intern)
SITEKI– Empowering artists while honouring Peter Tosh’s legacy through music and wellness.
The Eswatini National Nyabinghi Council is set to launch a unique celebration of music, health, and Rastafarian culture with the Buntfu Love Festival, kicking off on 5 July 2025 at Polar Rest & Bar in Siteki, Mpolonjeni. Spearheaded by project coordinator Ambrose Zwane, this initiative is more than a festival, it’s a socio-cultural movement rooted in arts, wellness, and the powerful legacy of the late reggae icon Peter Tosh.
According to Zwane, the festival forms part of a regional collaboration among SADC countries under the Southern African Nyabinghi Council (SANC), aiming to uplift artists and communities through continuous engagement. “Artists in the region, especially in Eswatini, often experience dry spells where there are few platforms to showcase their talent. This project is designed to change that,” Zwane explains. He emphasizes that Peter Tosh, who famously visited Eswatini in 1983, remains an inspirational figure. His advocacy for marijuana legalization, organic food, and human rights resonated strongly with Rastafarian values and African consciousness.
“Peter Tosh once stood before the royalties of this land, asking that his audience be allowed to smoke ganja freely during his concert at Somhlolo Stadium. It was a landmark moment where police permitted it, and the stadium was filled with people from across the continent,” Zwane recalls.
The Buntfu Love Festival is not a one-day event, it’s a year-long journey of artistic discovery and development. The first edition launches in July, and judges will select artists to participate in upcoming showcases leading up to the main festival in December 2025, aligned with World HIV/AIDS Day. The initiative will feature four build-up events across the country, forming part of a nationwide talent search dubbed Eswatini Got Talent.
These phases coincide with important dates:
February – Celebrating World Radio Day and Bob Marley’s birthday.
May – Aligning with Workers’ Day and World Press Freedom Day.
July – Focused on nutrition month in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
October – Honouring World Breastfeeding Week and Peter Tosh’s birthday.
Winners of each phase will ultimately earn a spot to perform at the December gig alongside regional and international artists.
True to Rastafarian principles, the festival isn’t just about entertainment. “We’ll also be offering workshops,” Zwane states. “We want to help people living with depression and chronic illnesses through counseling and holistic health practices.” These include training on
cooking and baking healthy, organic meals, without salt, sugar, or processed ingredients, a practice deeply rooted in the Ital lifestyle promoted by the Rastafarian community.
Workshops during the December festival will also educate the public on alternative diets beneficial for those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and provide empowerment sessions for artists, focusing on sustainability in the arts.
Each SADC country under SANC has committed to its own artistic projects, creating a network of platforms for creative exchange. “Recently, we were in South Africa and Mozambique for similar launches,” Zwane shares. “Eswatini is next, and we’re proud to host something that empowers artists and strengthens regional unity.”
The festival also offers economic promise. Through partnerships with government ministries such as Arts and Culture, Health, Agriculture, and Tourism, Buntfu Love Festival aspires to promote domestic tourism, support local businesses, and provide visibility for emerging talent.
Above all, Buntfu Love Festival is a tribute to Peter Tosh, the visionary who once saw potential in Eswatini as a beacon of African liberation. With support from the Peter Tosh Foundation, his spirit lives on through music, advocacy, and a commitment to wellness and community.
“This festival is a seed,” Zwane concludes. “One that will grow into a movement for healing, expression, and unity through the arts.”
EVENT DETAILS:
Venue: Polar Rest & Bar, Siteki Mpolonjeni
Date: 5 July 2025, 4 PM till late
Gate Fee: E70 | With Dreadlocks: E50 | Couple: E100
Info: 7604 1606
PERFORMERS INCLUDE: Bheki Bheki, Boloja, Nana Magagula, Ras Richie, Immortal Seven, Pachanga, Nhlavu, and more.
JUDGES: Mshikishi, Boloja, Nana Magagula, Reggy Maphanga
DJS: DJ Kish, Kay Jee Soundz, Peero_M, Resident DJs
