09/07/2025
Luju Festival Launches 7th Edition with a Return to the African Future
The 7th edition of the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival was officially launched in a grand ceremony attended by government officials, sponsors, cultural practitioners and creative stakeholders. The event, which took place under the theme “The Forgotten Seeds”, reaffirmed the festival’s role as a dynamic platform for economic development, cultural preservation, and community-driven innovation.
Delivering the keynote speech, Culinary Curator Benanile Dlamini stated that this year’s theme was a call to remember and restore ancestral knowledge. “I stand before you not only as a culinary curator, but as imbewu—a seed. A seed that reminds us of what we may have forgotten but never truly lost,” she said. Her remarks set the tone for the evening, which centred around celebrating the wisdom of traditional food systems and indigenous practices.
Dlamini explained that the culinary programme at Luju continues to be guided by the principles of food sovereignty, sustainability, and cultural integrity. “This festival was not born just to entertain. It was born as a remembering,” she noted. She went on to highlight the significance of ancient seeds in African traditions, describing them as vessels of knowledge, used not only for nutrition, but also in music, ceremonies, games, and even spiritual divination.
Culinary Programme Unveiled
The festival’s culinary offering for 2025 includes several new features designed to promote local food systems and empower food entrepreneurs. Among the highlights is the Farm to Fork Cookoff, a competition that pairs chefs with farmers to create dishes using indigenous and forgotten foods. According to the organisers, this initiative will not only showcase culinary creativity but also offer seed capital to winners for business development.
The Food Indaba, an interactive blue table talk hosted by Standard Bank, will bring together farmers, experts and innovators to discuss topics ranging from ancestral farming techniques to seed preservation and start-up funding for conservation projects. Another major feature is the AI: Ancestral Intelligence demonstration, which will focus on nature-based diets and sustainable harvesting practices led by a horticultural chef.
Dlamini emphasised that the programme aims to “restore the dignity and prestige of forgotten foods” and encourage culinary professionals to source fresh, local produce. She thanked the chefs, home cooks, and food traders involved in the festival, calling them “the new storytellers” whose work inspires and informs the Luju culinary experience each year.
The Culinary Hives, now a staple at the festival, will return with over 40 traders. It was noted that in 2024 alone, these traders collectively generated over E2.2 million, a testament to the economic opportunity the festival creates for small businesses.
Supporting Eswatini’s Bee Farmers
One of the evening’s key announcements was the continued growth of the Luju Bee Farming Project, a corporate social investment initiative led by Standard Bank in partnership with World Vision Eswatini and Emlembe Beverages.
Organisers confirmed that a total of E148,490 had been raised from ticket sales over the past three years, with funds used to train 60 farmers across Lobamba Lomdzala, Luyengo and Ngwenyameni in honey production and hive management. Over 150 beehives have already been distributed, and an additional 125 will be allocated this year.
“Luju means ‘honey’ in Siswati, and this project is deeply aligned with the festival’s identity,” Dlamini said. Guests were gifted jars of honey from the participating farmers, symbolising the tangible results of collaborative, community-based development.
Expanding MSME Empowerment: GROW Beyond Borders
Also launched on the evening was the GROW Beyond Borders SME Seminar, a new conference aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs to explore cross-border trade, partnerships, and capacity-building. Scheduled to take place two days before the festival, the seminar will be followed by the Food & Fashion Indaba, where stakeholders will collaborate to build sustainable value chains in the creative economy.
Standard Bank Eswatini Chief Executive, Mvuselelo Fakudze, remarked that Luju is “more than an event—it is an ecosystem.” He described the festival as a model for how culture, creativity, and commerce can intersect to drive Africa’s growth. “From award-winning regional impact to beekeeping projects changing lives, Luju is a living example of financing what matters,” Fakudze said.
He reiterated the bank’s ongoing commitment to MSME support and encouraged attendees to “Choose Standard Bank” as a partner in economic transformation.
Spotlight on Fashion: Threads of Time
This year’s fashion theme, Threads of Time, honours Africa’s textile heritage while embracing contemporary, sustainable design. Guests were treated to a visual preview of what to expect, with featured designs that included traditional bark cloth, bold prints, and eco-conscious garments.
South African designer Thula Sindi, who headlines the 2025 Fashion Programme with support from Mastercard, will debut an exclusive collection. He will be joined by a strong lineup of Eswatini-based designers including Blackdegree1412, Crochet by Selu, Kotini Kouture by Maureen, Rose Peti, KaysesCreations, and RUFF CUT ARTS Studio.
Festival organisers stated that the fashion programme aims to elevate local design talent while championing sustainability and cultural relevance.
Towards a Greener Festival
Environmental sustainability remains a key pillar of the Luju Festival. According to organisers, over 60% of waste generated at last year’s event was successfully recycled. Attendees were encouraged to use the three-bin waste system, Park n’ Ride shuttles, and reusable water bottles, in line with the festival’s commitment to being “as green as possible.”
In addition, all Culinary Hive stalls are constructed from repurposed materials, and composting toilets are used to minimise water waste. “Our ethos, A Return to the African Future, is not only about food and fashion—it’s also about protecting the environment that sustains us,” Dlamini said.
Tickets Now on Sale
Tickets for the festival, which will take place from 1–2 August 2025 at House On Fire, are now on sale through multiple platforms. Festivalgoers can purchase tickets via the official Luju website, Standard Bank branches in Mbabane, Ezulwini and Manzini, or on Unayo Marketplace via WhatsApp (message “Hi” to 7805 6364).
Ticket prices range from E600 to E2,600, with discounted options for children. Notably, Luju Gardens tickets will remain at Phase 1 pricing on Unayo throughout the sales period, a gesture by Standard Bank and House On Fire to maintain affordability and access for local patrons.
A Platform for Cultural and Economic Growth
Closing the launch, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini applauded the festival’s growing legacy as a strategic platform for entrepreneurship, cultural expression, and job creation. “Luju is a shining example of how business, culture and sustainability can thrive together,” he said.
With music acts including Blaq Diamond (Mastercard), Ami Faku, and Lady Zama (Stella Artois), alongside over 40 food and fashion vendors, LUJU 2025 promises a sensory celebration rooted in purpose.
In the words of curator Benanile Dlamini, “As we taste the forgotten seeds, may we remember that they are not just for planting in the soil, but in our consciousness—for they carry memory, currency and legacy.”
For more information, visit www.lujufestival.com or follow on social media.
Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival
Standard Bank Eswatini
