Swaziland: Bushfire ranked among world’s top fests

25 Jan 2018 - 16:28

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

US-based festival aggregator Everfest has listed MTN Bushfire Festival as one of the top festivals in the world. The event, which is in its 12th edition and will be held from 25 to 27 May, is the only African festival among 29 other festivals from across the globe.

Zimbabwe's Jah Prayzah performing at last year's MTN Bushfire Festival.
Fans enjoying a performance at the MTN Bushfire Festival.

“We are thrilled to be included in this prestigious list,” MTN Bushfire director Jiggs Thorne said. “Our inclusion validates our vision to be an inclusive, uniquely African and yet globally infused festival of the arts. We will continue to push our mandate that welcomes thousands of people in an atmosphere of tolerance and passionate commitment to music, the arts and the environment.”

This is not the first time MTN Bushfire Festival has received global recognition. In 2017 the event won the African Best Responsible Event Award and CNN listed it as one of the “seven African music festivals you really have to see”. In addition, BBC rated Bushfire as the “top African festival”.

"We're very excited to have MTN Bushfire join Everfest's Fest300 list in 2018,” the Austin-based company said. “Out of more than 100 global nominees, only 30 would win, and MTN Bushfire, you did it. We loved seeing the Bushfire fans in Swaziland turn out and rally to get the festival in the top 30! MTN Bushfire joins festivals from Canada, Thailand, Italy, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Slovakia and more to join Fest300 in 2018. We look forward to the years ahead with MTN Bushfire as a member of Everfest's global festival family."

Additionally, Everfest has featured 16 African festivals as part of its Fest300 list. The festivals include Afrikaburn (South Africa), Oppikoppi (South Africa), Nyege Nyege (Uganda), Timkat (Ethiopia), Felabration (Nigeria) and Lake of Stars (Malawi), among others.

Compiled by Everfest’s team of seasoned travel and festival experts, the top-30 list is based on the following criteria:

Festivals have an ethos of discovery and are about having fun.
Festivals are multi-dimensional, encourage participation, and offer various types of activities and stimuli.
Festivals can include anyone with the means to attend. They may charge for admission but should not discriminate by race, age, gender, religion or otherwise be private clubs.
Festivals physically occur in the real world. They remind us that there is a human social network where we meet old and new friends.
Festivals should be celebrations worthy of the test of time. They should recur or intend to recur.

Everfest is widely seen as the world's festival authority that connects the festival community online. It is also home of FestClub, an exclusive membership offering benefits across hundreds of festivals.

Everfest top-30 list: