Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival back with a bang

Back for its 7^th edition, the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival is a unique and sophisticated African-vintage style festival that continues to celebrate the continent’s food, arts and culture with its Afro-centric programme.

A lavish two-day family-friendly celebration, the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival will be taking place in The Kingdom of Eswatini on the 1^st and 2^nd of August 2025. Through culinary showcases by celebrity chefs and fabulous fashion designs inspired by the Luju ethos “A Return to the African Future”, the festival celebrates the sophistication and elegance of African vintage style, creative design and delicacies.

Festivalgoers are invited to come Eat, Sway, Love and rejoice in southern Africa’s heritage and culture. This year, the festival has an incredible lineup of talented chefs and sommeliers, sophisticated fashion designers and masterful musicians to entertain and inspire festivalgoers.

Culinary Programme:
The Culinary Programme explores sustainable practices through indigenous knowledge, as expressed in the theme ‘The Forgotten Seeds’. Demonstrations will be held by South Africans Onezwa Mbola, a rural food advocate and culinary storyteller who brings a grassroots perspective on local food economies, Roushanna Gray from Veld and Sea, which curates forager experiences, and Saskia Lesch, who returns with another of her insightful wine pairing and blind tasting workshops. An exciting collaboration sees globally acclaimed ceramics master Andile Dyalvane teaming up with traditional food chef Mrwetyana Zukisani of Masipheke Cuisine for a clay silo cooking demonstration. 

Fashion Programme:
Known for his timeless, globally inspired designs with a distinct African elegance, Thula Sindi brings decades of international runway experience to the Luju stage. He will debut an exclusive collection alongside Swazi talent and share strategies for scaling African fashion at the Luju Fashion Expo. A moment of inspiration, collaboration and celebration, rooted in creativity and powered by partnership.

A range of talented designers from Eswatini will show their collections at the Mastercard Luju Fashion Show, including Kwenzie Zwane of Black Degree, Seluliwe Mdluli of Crochet by Selu, Maureen Massingue of Kotini Kouture, Nothando Dlamini of Rose Peti, Madoda Vilakati of Ruff Cut, Fortunate Mdluli of Kayses Creations, and Sthembile Masuku of The House of Dandy, who will be collaborating with Dala Spaces, the curators of the runway show.

Music Programme:
Luju 2025’s epic lineup includes a variety of Jazz, Soul, Afro-Pop, Amapiano, as well as a raft of DJ experiences. Some of the amazing artists to look out for include South Africa’s multiple platinum-winning Blaq Diamond, and Buhlebendalo Mda, former founder member of world-famous group The Soil, now carving out a powerful solo career. Other South African acts to look out for include duo TKZee, who had an entire generation hooked on their infectious beats, dance music maestros Jazzworx & Thukuthela and award-winning songstress Lady Zamar, with her signature blend of House, R&B, and Soul.

Further outstanding acts from South Africa include Nomfundo Moh, a rising icon of her generation who blends Afro-Pop and Trap-Soul with heartfelt isiZulu lyrics, influential Jazz pianist Andile Yenana, and dancefloor wizard De Mthuda. Don’t miss platinum award-winning Lwah Ndlunkulu, extraordinary Afro-Soul/Jazz singer Phila Dlozi, trailblazing trombonist Siya Makuzeni, the edgy, bold lordkez, or legendary musician Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse.

Mozambique’s Xixel Langa – known in her home town of Maputo as XL – is a must-see experience, with her vibrant stage presence and rich Afro-Soul, which has taken her to stages around the world.

From Eswatini, vocalist, guitarist, storyteller and Afro-Soul gem Sands and a collaboration between Floewe and Country duo Dusty & Stones as the Feather Dusters promise a festival to remember. Electronic maestro Sibu Manzini will take us on a musical journey featuring some of the all-time greats from Eswatini; Velemseni, Diba Diba, Qibho Intalektual, Bholoja, Khole and Zinia. The honey-voiced Neo-Soul queen iYA, genre-bending DJ, Tendaness, electrifying deck-spinner, Ndumz,and emerging stars Tribal Natives are some of the don’t-miss talents from Eswatini, along with a host of local performers and DJs.

Tickets:
If you haven’t got your tickets now, better hurry while stocks last. Get yours now on the Luju website, https://lujufestival.com/#ticket. Eswatini residents can purchase Luju tickets via the Unayo Marketplace on WhatsApp. Simply WhatsApp ‘Hi’ to 7805 6364 (Unayo Marketplace), select Unayo Ticketing and follow the prompts.

Tickets can also be purchased from Standard Bank branches in Mbabane (Corporate Place), Ezulwini (The Gables) and Manzini (opposite Bhunu Mall). Festival tickets can also be purchased through Dala Spaces at Malandela’s Lifestyle, in Malkerns.