BALLANTINE'S EXITS MTN BUSHFIRE

MBABANE – MTN Bushfire Festival Director Jiggs Thorne has confirmed that Ballantine’s has withdrawn from the festival to refocus on their key markets.  

This publication received a tip that Ballantine’s would not be present at this year’s festival and, following up on the lead, we conducted an exclusive interview with Thorne during the recent MTN Bushfire Festival launch at the House on Fire Amphitheatre. He explained that the decision came from Ballantine’s head office. “It’s been a head office directive from Europe. We were told by the implementing agency that the MTN Bushfire Festival was the best profiting but it’s been a head office decision and they are cutting back focusing on their key markets which are Nigeria and South Africa,” Thorne said.  

He further revealed that they have secured a new partner for the MTN Bushfire Firefly. “We have a new partner in the MTN Bushfire Firefly but it is a surprise which we will announce when the time is right,” he said.  

Schedule

This publication also followed up on a rumour suggesting that award-winning musician Uncle Waffles is being considered to perform at the festival. Thorne expressed their desire to have her headline the festival in the future, but noted that her schedule is quite busy. “We have been trying to get Uncle Waffles here for the longest time. I’m sure it is going to happen; she obviously has a busy schedule. I think one of the issues is that she commands overseas rates now. If she can get a gig in Dallas it is hard to compete. I think her management is making distant decisions, but of course it would be lovely to have her headline Bushfire one year,” Thorne said.  

Named ‘Top African Festival’ by the BBC and hailed by CNN as one of the ‘seven African music festivals you really have to see’, MTN Bushfire is a conscious, family-friendly celebration of some of the finest music in Africa and beyond, held in an atmosphere of tolerance and inclusivity.  

Expressions

As one of Africa’s leading sustainable festivals, MTN Bushfire welcomes festivalgoers to the Bring Your Fire movement of changemakers and creative activists to be part of the festival’s active expressions of unity in diversity, conscious arts advocacy and inclusive sustainability. The festival also provides platforms that support national sustainability policies, encouraging solutions-based conversations to address urgent issues.  

This year’s edition was officially launched by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, who stated that the festival not only plays a pivotal role in attracting tourists to the country but also creates local economic opportunities and boosts the creative economy. “In the 18 years of the festival’s existence, the festival has truly solidified its stature as a beacon of global recognition by its unwavering commitment to sustainability, a principle that aligns closely with the vision and priorities of our nation,” he said. The Prime Minister also added that the festival has not only highlighted the importance of celebrating the arts but has also demonstrated a clear and compelling commitment to ensuring that an event of its profile is both environmentally and socially responsible. 

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