BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE— Forget the usual concert routine of arriving for a few hours, watching performances and heading home.
Friends in the City is bringing a different kind of entertainment experience to Eswatini, combining music, family-friendly activities, fashion, food, swimming and motorsport into a laid-back summer lifestyle event.
Hosted by Hlelo Kunene, the event will take place at SibaneSami Hotel, creating a setting where friends can reconnect, families can spend time together and strangers can potentially leave as new acquaintances.
Kunene said the concept was born from a desire to fill what the organisers saw as a gap in the local entertainment scene,an event that feels more like a social day out than a traditional concert.
“We’re not just putting artists on a stage, we’re curating the people, the atmosphere, the activities, the fashion, the food and the music.”
Friends in the City is designed around an outdoor lifestyle experience, with an Afro-music-focused line-up, alongside hip-hop representation from Kyro. The event will also feature a child-friendly zone, including a jumping castle and swimming, while adults can enjoy the music and social atmosphere.
Motorsport will add another layer of excitement without taking away from the picnic-style concept. According to Kunene, the cars, sound and crowd reactions are intended to blend naturally with the day’s entertainment.
The event aims to give different audiences a reason to enjoy the same space, from families and music lovers to fashion enthusiasts and motorsport fans.
The “Shorts & Shades” theme further encourages attendees to embrace comfortable summer fashion, with organisers looking for colourful, expressive looks inspired by the relaxed energy associated with events such as Luju.
Families, young people, music lovers and lifestyle enthusiasts are among those expected to benefit from the experience, while the wider entertainment industry could gain another platform for artists, activities and creative expression.
The event’s programme combines live music, children’s activities, swimming, food, fashion and motorsport at one venue — evidence of the organisers’ intention to create a broader lifestyle experience rather than a music-only show.
Kunene said the long-term vision is to develop Friends in the City into a recognisable lifestyle brand.
“We want people to leave having had a genuinely good day,” he said, adding that future editions could introduce different themes, activities and line-ups while maintaining the core values of “Good Vibes, Good People and Good Energy.”
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(Courtesy Pic)
