“One of the top ten international festivals to visit this summer” – MTV IGGY/ The future of music

Backlit by fiery mountain sunsets across acres of pristine farmland, MTN BUSHFIRE is Swaziland’s internationally acclaimed three day music & arts festival that celebrates creative expression whilst promoting social responsibility, stimulating the economy, and drawing talent and tourists from across Africa and around the world.

Each year a multi-generational global community of up to 20,000 “bring their fire” to the scenic Malkerns Valley to experience an eclectic Pan-African and international line-up of live music, theatre, poetry, film, circus, dance and visual arts. A vibrant handcraft market, family-friendly performances & KidZone as well as the recently introduced interactive art and dialogue space, The Barn, combine to create a magically eclectic 3 day entertainment experience.

Founded in 2007, MTN BUSHFIRE has a well-deserved reputation for its’ visionary approach, integrity and “Call to Action” mandate which defines its commitment to nurturing the Swazi arts and cultural scene, whilst raising awareness and funds to tackle the nation’s most pressing social needs. Donating 100% of its profits to orphans through the Swazi NGO Young Heroes (www.youngheroes.org.sz), and 100% of merchandise proceeds to the non-profit rural community development project Gone Rural boMake (www.goneruralbomake.org), MTN BUSHFIRE serves, in the words of one journalist, “as a living, breathing, creative ecosystem.” To date MTN Bushfire has donated over 1 million Emalangeni to these two organizations.

The festival growth and development strategy includes cultivating additional festival strands which will enable a legacy of sustainable skill sharing and growth of the arts industry within Swaziland and the region. Strands include:

• MTN BUSHFIRE Schools Festival: A three day festival exposing students and teachers to the language of the arts through workshops and performances by international arts facilitators
• 100% Seriously Swazi programme: A development programme aiming to introduce upcoming Swazi groups to broader audiences
• The Arts Round Table: Professional development workshops for the arts industry
• The Barn: An interactive open forum for discussion of current social concerns through dialogue and art
• Handcraft Marketplace: A marketplace for Swazi handcrafters and artisans practicing fair trade principles
• Kidzone and family programme: theatre, storytelling and a playground within the festival arena for the whole family.
• The Ekhaya Stage- a space dedicated to the celebration of swazi and African traditional culture
• Sibebe Friday Night Live Series – a local talent showcase with a chance to win a performance slot at MTN Bushfire
• The Firefest Route- A Southern Africa Festivals Tour Circuit promoting cultural exchange and collaboration through 5 countries.

It is this distinctive fusion of inspired multi-dimensional creativity, demographically diverse audience, socially-accountable philosophy, and magical setting that creates and sustains BUSHFIRE’s harmonious energy and sets it apart from all other festivals.

MTN BUSHFIRE BENEFICIARIES

Every year 100% profits from MTN BUSHFIRE are donated to Young Heroes & 100% merchandise proceeds go to Gone Rural boMake.

Young Heroes (www.youngheroes.org.sz) is a child sponsorship programme that assists Swaziland’s orphan families to stay together by funding essentials such as food and clothing. From 2013’s festival proceeds, MTN BUSHFIRE donated ZAR167,000 Funds were also raised through the MTN supported Careline Campaign, an sms donation drive initiated for the benefit of Young Heroes.

Gone Rural boMake (www.goneruralbomake.org) assists rural Swazi women and their communities with information & infrastructure development, addressing health, education and social concerns, impacting more than 6,000 people in 52 villages. Proceeds from the sale of MTN BUSHFIRE merchandise in 2013 raised ZAR105,000.

MTN Bushfire has raised over 1 million Emalangeni for these two organizations to date.

MTN BUSHFIRE fulfills its “Call to Action” with an unmatched dedication and commitment. We consider our partnership with MTN BUSHFIRE to be among our most valuable assets. Steve Kallaugher, Founder, Young Heroes

As a non-profit organisation, the opportunity MTN BUSHFIRE affords us is crucial and deeply appreciated. Yael Uzon-Tidhar, Managing Director, Gone Rural boMake

MTN BUSHFIRE call to action

“BRING YOUR FIRE! Igniting a collective response for positive change”

The ‘BRING YOUR FIRE’ philosophy is a conscious attempt to engage artists and audiences alike to bring their voice, to bring their contribution in whichever way they can, igniting a collective response for positive change. This philosophy drives every aspect of the festival, setting it apart from all other festivals. In doing this, MTN BUSHFIRE celebrates the human spirit, the light in all of us, to become more conscious and active participants in creating positive change for a better world.

Jiggs Thorne, Director MTN BUSHFIRE

MTN BUSHFIRE SCHOOLS’ FESTIVAL

MTN BUSHFIRE’s Schools Festival exposes children and teachers to the many “languages of the arts”, inspiring and nurturing young minds, instilling confidence and encouraging creative self-expression.

Under the tutelage of musicians, artists and other creative industry professionals, the Schools Festival counters the lack of a formal arts and culture curriculum in public schools by presenting activities, workshops, educational seminars and interactive competitions for participants from high schools throughout Swaziland, and provides teachers and students with tools to bring continuity and sustainability to the matter in their schools throughout the year.

Each year 150 students, 70 teachers and 20 art instructors, selected by the Swaziland
Schools Culture Council meet at House on Fire to share this highly sought after, motivational and fun experience. In 2013, the Open Day was added to the programme to allow participation from a greater number of schools and students, seeing 400 students from across the country. Since its inception, the MTN BUSHFIRE Schools Festival has hosted more than 1400 young people, 150 teachers, 3 international facilitators and 21 local facilitators and has featured such notable facilitators as Gcina Mhlophe, Ellis Pearson, Bheki Mkwane, and Pedro the Music Man.

The [MTN BUSHFIRE] Schools Festival has inspired our students to write poetry, make dances and theatre, now every day we have a young poet recite their work at assembly.” – Mr. Magagula, Bhunya Usuthu High School

ARTS & CULTURE:

100% SERIOUSLY SWAZI PROGRAMME

Introduced in 2009 in collaboration with Swaziland National Council of Arts & Culture (SNCAC), MTN BUSHFIRE’S “100% Seriously Swazi” programme provides unparalleled opportunities for Swazi artists & groups. While the festival celebrates multiple cultures, “100% Seriously Swazi” brings the distinctive character of Swazi music to the stage. Performing on the same bill as well-known artists from around the world provides invaluable exposure to an international standard of performance delivery as well as the opportunity to perform to a large crowd.

ARTS ROUND TABLE: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Through facilitated workshops for emerging artists and managers, the Arts Round Table aims to increase knowledge and skills in the artistic community thus enabling individuals and organizations to succeed as professionals in the entertainment field.

“…MTN BUSHFIRE … provides an outstanding economic platform for the creative sector and for artist development.” Stanley Dlamini (Swaziland National Council for Arts and Culture)

THE BARN

The Barn was conceptualized in 2012 as an interactive art and dialogue space devoted to free exchange of ideas, performance art, exhibitions, speakers, and round-table discussions.
We at MTN BUSHFIRE believe passionately in the power of art, not just to entertain, but to provoke, to enlighten, to activate.

The interdisciplinary nature of the programme embraces individuals from all walks of life sharing their ideas on positive evolution and development of our communities. Through The Barn, MTN BUSHFIRE hopes to facilitate conversation and encourages participants to be inspired thinkers, doers, artists and visionaries. Notable participants have included actor and director, Richard E. Grant, humanitarian and explorer Kingsley Holgate, author and anti-apartheid sympathiser Elias Masilela, and restaurateur and indigenous food enthusiast Dolores Goddefory.

“A festival by its nature attracts people who are open to freer or more liberal ways of thinking… and I think that’s always a good thing.” Richard E. Grant

FIREFEST ROUTE

A Southern African Festival Tour Circuit
With funding support from African Music Festivals Network

Pioneered by MTN BUSHFIRE, the Firefest Route is an African music festival network that seeks to encourage and promote regional cultural exchange, collaboration and knowledge sharing among member festivals.

Harare International Festival of the Arts, Zimbabwe; AZGO, Mozambique MTN BUSHFIRE, Swaziland BLACKMAJOR, South Africa and Sakifo Musik Festival, Reunion Island -collaborate with the intention to realize the following benefits:

• Encouraging large scale regional tourism
• Creating opportunities of joint marketing of Festival Routes
creating wider media coverage
• Cost sharing of International artists allow for more high profile acts increasing
audience attendance

“The Firefest Route is regarded by AMFN as one of the most innovative and ground-breaking concepts today in African arts festival development.” – Paul Brickhill, African Music Festivals Network/ African Synergy Trust

IMPACTING SWAZILAND’S ECONOMY
FACTS & FIGURES

Attendance statistics

MTN BUSHFIRE 2013 was the most successful festival to date with:
• Nearly 20,000 people attended MTN BUSHFIRE 2013:
• With over 29 different countries represented
• Nearly 100 international artists from 9 different countries performed
• Close to 100 local artists & groups were featured through “100% Seriously Swazi” and main programmes
• The festival generated more than ZAR 4 million in media value in SA alone!
• For every E1 spent on the festival E6 is generated for the broader Swazi Economy
• The Handcraft Market, Food Fair and KidZone featured 73 vendors in 2013.
• Almost 800 jobs were directly created by MTN BUSHFIRE 2013.

• An independent study conducted in 2010 by the Danish Centre for Culture and Development concluded that typically for every ZAR1 gross spend by the Festival, ZAR6 is generated for the Swazi economy.

PREVIOUS PERFORMERS WHO HAVE “BROUGHT FIRE” TO MTN BUSHFIRE

“…When I arrive at the festival, the grounds are naturally majestic, green… I meet young poets, musicians, American Peace Corps volunteers, immigrants, students, all interacting graciously… I’d like to see more people visiting places like Swaziland where statistics paint pictures that do not speak of the warmth and generosity of the people. We may go to these places thinking we have something to teach, but more often than not we come back having realized that we have much to learn.” – Poet/Musician Saul Williams

“The combination of the setting plus the special identity/ethos/atmosphere of the festival makes this a very memorable and precious place to perform. Unique in the world I would say… it has an intimacy and character which is something else…” – Adam Glasser’s “Mzansi Project”

Since 2007 MTN BUSHFIRE has hosted a wide range of stellar Pan-African and international artists:

Adam Glasser (SA)
Aldo Brincat (Botswana)
Alhousseni Mohamed Anivolla &
Guy Buttery (Niger & SA)
Aly Keita (Mali)
Ayo (NIG)
Bholoja (SD)
Black Motion (SA)
Blissful Virtuous (UK)
Bomba Estereo (Colombia)
Busi Mhlongo (SA)
Coleman Barks (USA)
Comrade Fatso (Zimbabwe)
Croc E Moses (Canada)
Dobet Ghanoré (Ivory Coast)
Elemotho (Namibia)
Freshlyground (SA)
Gcina Mhlophe (SA)
Goldfish (SA)
Habib Koite (Mali)
Hope Masike feat. Bokani Dyer &
Muzila (Zim, SA & Moz)
Hot Water (SA)
Hugh Masekela (SA)
Jeremy Loops (SA)
Johnny Clegg (SA)
Jose Chameleone (UG)
José Mucavele (Moz)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (SA)
Laurent Decol (FR)
Mango Groove (SA)
Mi Casa (SA)
Nana Magagula (SD)
Nancy G &The Human Family (SD)
Nathalie Natiembe & Cheney (Reunion
Island & Moz)
Nomzamo (Swaziland)
Oliver Mtukudzi (Zim)
Oy (Switzerland)
Parlotones (SA)
Pops Mohammed (SA)
Praxis & KRTC (Spain & SD)
Ras Haitrm (Moz)
Rooted Soulz (SD)
Rootsrider (Holland)
Sakaki Mango (Japan)
Saul Williams (USA)
Shanti Lo (Botswana)
Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse (SA)
Siphokazi (SA)
Siyinqaba (SD)
Sotho Sounds (Lesotho)
Soweto String Quartet (SA)
Spirits Indigenous (SD)
Stewart Sukuma & the Spring
String Quartet (Moz & Austria)
Stimela (SA)
Tarika Bé (Madagascar)
Thandiswa (SA)
The Brother Moves On (SA)
The Muffinz (SA)
The Soil (SA)
Timbila Muzimba (Moz)
Toya Delazy (SA)
Varanda Panda (SA)
Vusi Mahlasela (SA)
Yale Concert Band (USA)

MTN BUSHFIRE PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS

MTN BUSHFIRE 2013

MTN BUSHFIRE School’s Festival 2013

MTN BUSHFIRE 2012

MTN BUSHFIRE School’s Festival 2012

MTN BUSHFIRE 2011

MTN BUSHFIRE School’s Festival 2011