Mozambican artists brought the richness and diversity of national culture to the stage of the Bushfire festival in Eswatini, held between May 29 and 31, 2026.
Living up to the festival’s motto “bring your fire,” the co-produced Ka-Tembe Connexion project, produced by 16Neto financed by Cultiv’arte rooted in the shared history between artists from Eswatini and Mozambique, took Mbira and Xitende to a two-week artistic residency that culminated in a performance that combined folk sounds from both countries with elements of contemporary music.
Ka-Tembe Connexion presented its show at the Amphitheater, one of the festival’s busiest stages. For the project manager, Evaristo de Abreu, the initiative aims to motivate the dreams of emerging artists. “For us, this will give hope.” “Many young people who are at the beginning of their careers will realize that it is possible to be on stages and in spaces like these, and that it is extremely important that Mozambique has more representation in this type of festival,” he said.
Amidst songs and dances that thrilled the audience, Radjha Aly was also one of the national stars who took to the stage to present some compositions from his first album, recently released, entitled Ninee.
In an interview with Rádio Moçambique, Radjha Aly stated that the presence of national artists at Bushfire is an opportunity to project Mozambican culture beyond borders. The artist also advocated for greater investment in culture by the business sector, to strengthen the creative industry and allow Mozambique to host events of international scope.
The SMP Evolution project, led by Stélio Mondlane, was also present at the Bushfire 2026 Festival, bringing to the stage a fusion of contemporary jazz and traditional Mozambican rhythms, in a performance that was well received by the public and highlighted the richness and creativity of national music.
Between traditional music from the Makonde Plateau and contemporary sounds, the presentation of the Mozambican trio, Damas do Planalto also brought Mozambican culture to the Bushfire 2026 stage.
In an interview with Moz Entretenimento, the group highlighted the active participation of the audience, demonstrating their appreciation for the performance, adding that they represented Mozambique in the best way and that they hope to continue taking national culture to other international events.
The next edition of the Bushfire Festival is scheduled to take place between May 28 and 30, 2027, maintaining the tradition of bringing together artists and audiences from various parts of the world in Eswatini.
Written by: Elisa Chaúque
Photos: Archives
