Lauded by CNN as one of the “7 African music festivals you really have to see”, and most recently named as BBC’s Top African Festival, MTN Bushfire is Swaziland’s internationally acclaimed 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.

MTN Bushfire is pleased to be able to announce just some of the diverse talent that will be featured at the 2016 Ten Year Anniversary edition of the event, taking place from May 27th – 29th. With tickets for this year’s event already selling fast- fans are urged to book tickets now to avoid missing out on this unique and amazing line-up.

Acts already announced by MTN Bushfire include Mali’s internationally acclaimed world-music stars Songhoy Blues whose debut album has been described by top music magazine NME as “a masterpiece of desert blues, blending American guitar licks with Malian grooves,” the exciting new South African genre breaking eclectic fusion of Afrobalkan Skadubhall Bombshelter Beast featuring Pitch Black Afro, Mafikizolo, whose 2014 comeback made waves across South Africa and beyond, Pablo Nouvelle, a filmmaker and musician from Switzerland who takes soul “back to the future” with a combination of new sounds and old samples, and Living Room – made up of Manu Delago, an Austrian percussionist and composer, best known as Bjork’s hang drummer and saxophonist and clarinet player Pepe Auer.

South African artists also confirmed include cutting edge acts such as Native Young, Nomadic Orchestra, Felix Laband, and Toby2Shoes with acts from Swaziland including Bholoja, Nomzamo Zaza Dlamini & Fanaza.MTN Bushfire is proud to announce the next batch of additions to this already globally representative line up with artists from a far afield as Canada and New Zealand. Confirmed for the MTN Bushfire main stage is Estère, whose mixture of bass, synth, drums, guitar, vocal harmonies, keyboard, whistles, claps, kazoo, desk tapping has been dubbed Electric Blue Witch Hop. Hailing from New Zealand, Estère has performed at festivals across the globe and opened for artists including Erykah Badu, Morcheeba, Baths, Ikonika and KT Tunstal. In fact, Acclaim Magazine describes her as having a “velvet smooth voice that has already drawn comparisons with Erykah Badu with the charm of Lianne La Havas.”Also confirmed for the 2016 lineup is 27 year-old Canadian singer Cold Specks whose 2012 debut album, ‘I Predict a Graceful Expulsion!’ was hailed as a masterful and wholly original debut, and was shortlisted for a Juno award and Polaris Prize. In a style described as “doom-soul” Cold Specks has worked on Moby’s album ‘Innocents’ and was invited to play with Joni Mitchell at the singer’s 70th birthday, alongside the likes of Herbie Hancock.DJ Dawee is a Reggae/Dancehall, Soca, Tropical Bass & Afrobeats DJ & MC from the Berlin-based sound system and label SWS. Dawee will bring to MTN Bushfire the wickedest tunes from the Caribbean with newly emerging music genres from around the globe (Moombahton, Tropical Bass) in a creative and danceable way.Another exciting announcement is the confirmation of South Africa ska legends The Rudimentals. Setting the standard for ska/ reggae / African beats in Southern Africa for over 14 years, The Rudimentals’ 13 piece line-up includes; a three-piece brass section with a trombonist, trumpet and saxophonist; a five-piece vocal section with two international male fashion model MC’s from New York and Jamaica, a Zimbabwean-born ‘toasting’ MC and a rotating roster of up-and-coming backing vocalists; a keyboard player; an electronic and beats synth-player; a drummer first blooded in the metal scene; a bass player and guitar player.Tickets on Sale Now – Book Early to Avoid Disappointment
With tickets for MTN Bushfire in 2015 selling out before the event even started, fans are urged to secure tickets early. MTN Bushfire pre-sale tickets are on sale now via the MTN Bushfire website and Facebook page, www.bush-fire.com, www.facebook.com/MTNBushfire.

Please note that there will be no physical tickets on sale as all tickets will be digital. Fans are once again urged to book tickets early to avoid disappointment as tickets for MTN Bushfire 2015 sold out in the week before the festival.

Fans must also note that this year Single Day Golden Lounge tickets will NOT be available, but a limited amount of Full Festival Golden Lounge passes are on sale.

Make sure you are part of this growing cultural movement in 2016!

via Music In Jozi