BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MBABANE – Eswatini’s gospel heavyweights are set to take center stage in what promises to be a historic spiritual gathering in Mbombela.
Award-winning powerhouses Nothando Hlophe and Linda Dlamini are scheduled to light up the Tri-Nations Gospel Music Concert on Easter Friday, April 3, 2026.
The concert serves as a cornerstone of the inaugural Tri-Nation Festival, a massive four-day regional celebration hosted at ChafZar Lifestyle aimed at uniting South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique through a vibrant exchange of music, culture, and sport.
For those seeking a spiritual reawakening this Easter, the Friday concert—headlined by South African legend Benjamin Dube—is being hailed as a “must-attend” event. ChafZar MD Ndumiso Mona highlighted the significance of the timing, noting that “all three countries have a strong following when it comes to gospel music and a gospel concert will be most appropriate on the day being Easter Friday.” The performances are set to begin in the afternoon, allowing attendees to participate in morning church services before transitioning into an evening of deep worship that will last until early nightfall.
The festival itself is the result of a long-term vision to bridge the entertainment industries of the three neighboring nations. Tatenda Mandaza of Tendamix in Eswatini, the record producer known as DJ Tendaness and a key brain behind the festival, expressed his excitement at the project finally moving from the planning stages to reality. “This concept has been in the sausage machine for the past two years and we are happy it will now come to manifestation,” Mandaza shared, emphasizing the dedication required to bring such a regional event to life.
Beyond the gospel stage, the weekend kicks off on Thursday, April 2, with a Comedy Night designed to highlight the shared culture of the region. Mona believes that laughter is the ultimate bridge between these nations. “Nothing unites people from diverse backgrounds better than humour, especially if they can all relate to the joke(s) and the language,” he explained. He further noted that “there are a number of Eswatini comedians who are a hit in Mpumalanga… Mozambique also boasts a good number of standup comedians who are sure to reduce audiences to stitches.”
The festival will also feature a Soul & RnB Party on Saturday, which Mona describes as the “ultimate soulful event in the region, full of RnB grooves and chilled vibes.” The weekend reaches its climax on Sunday with the Tri-Nation Spin Fest. ChafZar’s head of spinning, Brian Malope, promised an exhilarating show featuring “Team SA, Team Eswatini, and Team Moz,” ensuring the event concludes with high-octane energy.
With Nothando and Linda representing the Kingdom on this international platform, fans are encouraged to secure their tickets via Computicket.
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