The Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival reported a 34.6% increase in international reach at its 2026 edition, alongside higher sales for small businesses, as the eSwatini event expanded to a two-day format.
The eighth edition, held from 1 to 2 August at House on Fire in eSwatini, attracted more than 10,000 people from 35 countries.
Attendance and business impact
Organisers said the expanded format contributed to a 17% increase in sales among the festival’s 113 SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) traders compared with 2025. More than 620 employment opportunities were created across production, hospitality, trading and services.
The programme brought together music, food and fashion under the theme ‘A Return to the African Future’, with 49 musical acts, 15 designer collections and five culinary demonstrations presented across four stages.
Culinary and fashion programme
The culinary programme centred on ‘Nguni Foodways’, bringing together practitioners from eSwatini, South Africa and Zimbabwe to explore Swati, Zulu, Ndebele and Xhosa food traditions. It included live cooking demonstrations, dining experiences and Culinary Indaba discussions focused on food sovereignty and indigenous food systems.
Chef Sive Bhembe said the festival had helped encourage greater engagement with African culinary heritage.
“Luju has played an instrumental role in reconnecting people with forgotten foodways and indigenous ingredients, creating a platform where African cuisine can be celebrated, reimagined and shared.”
Fashion included 15 designers from five countries participating in the Fashion Café Pop-Up Runway, Luju Fashion Runway and Fashion Indaba. South African designer Mzukisi Mbane of Imprint South Africa headlined the programme, which included 11 Swati designers.
Lesotho-based designer Chere Mongangane of Bonono Merchants traded at the festival’s fashion café with support from Standard Bank Lesotho. Mozambican designer King Levi, founder of XIGUBO and Fancy Africa Fashion Week, also returned to the festival.
“Luju offers a space where African designers can share not only their collections, but also the stories, traditions, and identities that inspire them,” Levi said. “It is through platforms like this that we continue to strengthen the creative economy and showcase the depth and diversity of African fashion to the world.”
Music and regional collaboration
Music remained central to the festival, with 62% of the 49 performers coming from eSwatini. Artists from South Africa, Mozambique and Lesotho also featured.
- Mozambique: Neyma
- Lesotho: Maleh
- South Africa: Zakes Bantwini, Zola 7, The Masekela Band, Nasty C, Liquideep, Shwi Mantombazane
- eSwatini: Bholoja, Cece & Rina, Judah Soul, Oriiginelle, Emagagu, Sancheziey
The festival’s regional ambitions were further demonstrated through launch events in Johannesburg and Maputo. A delegation of more than 10 representatives from Mozambique’s National Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (INIC), led by National Director Ivan Bonde, attended to examine Luju’s festival model, including public-private partnerships and digital marketing, with the intention of applying some approaches to festivals in Mozambique.
Cross-border expertise was also used in production, with Mozambican company Marrabenta Special Events & Technologies involved in sound and technical services.
Leadership comment
Luju Festival Director Jiggs Thorne said expanding the festival’s regional connections remained a priority.
“Luju was always designed to grow beyond eSwatini’s borders. Our launches in Johannesburg and Maputo, and the collaboration we’re building with partners across the region, are the first steps toward a festival platform that connects African creative economies, not just to us.”
Thorne added that the festival would focus on strengthening partnerships in trade, talent and tourism, with the aim of creating opportunities for SMEs, artists and designers across Southern Africa.
Standard Bank eSwatini chief executive Mvuselelo Fakudze said the bank’s involvement reflected its view of culture and creativity as contributors to economic growth.
“Our partnership with House On Fire to bring to life the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival reflects our shared belief that culture, creativity and commerce are powerful drivers of inclusive economic growth.”
Fakudze also pointed to the involvement of Standard Bank’s operations in Mozambique and Lesotho in supporting regional collaboration, including the participation of Bonono Merchants.
