BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MALKERNS – It’s that time of the year again!
Media accreditation for the 18th edition of MTN Bushfire is now open.
The 18th edition of the MTN Bushfire Festival opened today (3 February 2025) and will close on Friday, 2 May 2025. It is worth noting that spaces are limited, so media representatives are encouraged to apply early. This was announced today by Festival Director Jiggs Thorne.
The festival will take place at the picturesque Malandela’s Lawns from 30 May to 1 June 2025.
Thorne stated that MTN Bushfire invites media accreditation applications from journalists, travel writers, photographers, videographers, and bloggers from established and reputable national, regional, or international newspapers, magazines, news services, radio and television stations, and networks, including relevant online publications. Stringers and freelancers with proven placement are also encouraged to apply.
With its roster of international talent, innovative, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive programming, as well as its remarkable spirit of diversity and celebration, MTN Bushfire is a major media event that attracts journalists and media practitioners from around the world.
Thorne revealed that due to the high volume of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted. Final media selections will be made at the festival’s discretion.
Applications can only be submitted through the Press Accreditation page on the MTN Bushfire website. Media representatives will first be required to complete an application form from Eswatini’s Ministry of Information, Communications, and Technology before the festival can grant accreditation.
Accredited media will have access to press conferences, the opportunity to request interviews with artists, and front-stage access for photography and videography. The designated Media Hub, equipped with power and wireless internet, will serve as the festival’s center for media information and interviews, and journalists are encouraged to utilize this facility.
It is important to note that media accreditation does not include travel or accommodation unless specifically pre-arranged with MTN Bushfire. Journalists are advised to book accommodation early, as nearby lodgings tend to fill up quickly. Accredited journalists may also consider purchasing camping or glamping passes.
As one of Africa’s leading sustainable festivals, MTN Bushfire’s forward-thinking environmental and social policies earned it the “Best Responsible Event” award at the WTM African Responsible Tourism Awards in 2017. Named a “Top African Festival” by the BBC and hailed by CNN as one of the “7 African music festivals you really have to see,” MTN Bushfire looks forward to reigniting the fire in the stunning farmlands of Malkerns, Eswatini, for a family-friendly, eclectic celebration of some of the finest music from Africa and beyond.
More information on accommodation options, including a list of possible places to stay, is available in the Plan section on the festival website: www.bush-fire.com.
For direct media inquiries, contact the MTN Bushfire Communications Officer, Simon Dawson, at communications@bush-fire.com.
(Featured image: Daniel Toro)
