BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – The growth of the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival saw the festival also launch in Maputo early this week.
The sixth edition of the food and lifestyle local launch took place on Friday at Malandelas. It was officially launched by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini. He was accompanied by two other ministers, namely the Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane; the Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo; and Standard Bank’s CE, Mvuselelo Fakudze.
The Mozambique launch was held at X-HUB Incubadora Criativa in Maputo. It was attended by the media of that country as well as the House on Fire team, which included Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival Director Jiggs Thorne, House on Fire Marketing Officer Bongani Dlamini, Project Manager Penny Bower, and Phiwo Dhlamini.
According to Thorne, Mozambique continues to be well represented in the festival’s culinary, fashion, and music programmes. The launch saw a live performance by the legendary Wazimbo, who will be performing at this year’s Luju Festival. Wazimbo is one of the greatest voices of the Marrabenta music genre, a unique fusion of traditional Mozambican dance rhythms and Portuguese folk music.
Festival Director Thorne said, “Our continuing partnership with Mozambican creative collective, X-HUB, means that festivalgoers from the region will once again enjoy the Taste of Mozambique. This is an eclectic, vibrant space at Luju Festival offering an Afro-Lusophone experience for festivalgoers to interact with the fashion, music, and rhythm of the colourful African coast.”
Tickets are now available in Maputo from X-HUB Incubadora Criativo as well as CCMA-Centro Cultural Moçambicano-Alemão (CCMA). Online tickets, including camping tickets and other accommodation options, are available on the official website, www.lujufestival.com.
