A unique celebration of the tastes, smells, sights and sounds of Swaziland and surrounds, the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival will be a sensory experience unlike any other.

Celebrating the diverse and often hidden tastes, smells and flavors of Southern Africa with an authentically African rooted program; Luju will feature cooking demos and master-classes by seasoned chefs in the region, the best in African fashion, design and arts, as well as some exciting music and comedy performances by artists from Swaziland, South Africa, Mozambique and beyond.

Set on the lavish lawns of the House on Fire Sculpture Garden against a breathtaking backdrop of endless cane fields and rolling hills, August 4th 2018 is a day not to be missed for any food enthusiasts, culture buffs and travelers looking for a unique and sophisticated African-vintage styled event celebrating the local, the wholesome, the creative, and the delicious.

Weekend Add-On Value

Weekend add-on experiences including glass-blowing and candle-making showcases to be put on by Ngwenya Glass and Swazi Candles, as well as a traditional dance show at the nearby Mantenga Cultural Village, will make for a culturally rich and memorable Swaziland experience for all Luju visitors – more on this below.

The Hosts

Luju is being brought to life by the same team as the world-renowned and much loved MTN Bushfire Festival – House on Fire, backed by a leading global brand in finance and investment whose African heritage goes beyond 150 years – Standard Bank. Guests can be assured of top-notch production, an all-star line-up, and an experience to create poignant memories to last a lifetime.

What to Expect on the Day

Within the House on Fire Amphitheatre, a culinary-focused program will create space for interaction with featured presenters, celebrity chefs and culinary demonstrations, as well as stand-up comedy and a selection of artists & DJs from the region.

One of the headline chefs for this area will be the well-loved J’Something – attending in his capacity as a chef and food lover, as well as fronting a performance from the SA legends – Mi Casa on the Luju Main Stage.

J’Something’s spicy authentic Portuguese heritage and hearty homegrown South African food has become his trademark. Most recently he has been showcased as a headline chef appearing next to greats such as Marco Pierre White, Jan Hendrick and George Calombaris.

Moving from the HOF Amphitheatre, guests will be able to leisurely stroll through a well-manicured lawn surrounded by lovely cane fields and gardens where they can view various displays of food, drink, art, as well as high-end, bespoke and handmade home décor, objet d’art, fashion and visual art pieces.

Tickets

This wholesome experience is attainable at E350 for general ticket and E600 for the VIP ticket. Pre-register to get each ticket at a discount of less E100 – see details in the advert. Register online via this link: HERE

Guests are encouraged to make a weekend of the experience with some of these activities that will be hosted by official Luju partners:

• Ngwenya Glass: Glass Blowing

Ngwenya Glass is one of Swaziland’s hottest tourist attractions. Since 1987, Ngwenya Glass has been making glassware in Swaziland from 100% recycled glass, building on a reputation of quality, functionality, beauty and environmental awareness. Visitors will be able to view the glassblowing from 9am to 2pm on Sunday August 5th at the glass factory which is strategically located near the Ngwenya/Oshoek border leading into South Africa. There will be a team creating some unique glass artworks on the day and visitors will be able to watch at no cost.

• Mantenga Cultural Village

Situated in a Ezulwini Valley within Mantenga Nature Reserve, the Cultural Village is a natural display where visitors can learn about everyday life in a traditional Swazi homestead, and enjoy vibrant traditional dance shows.

There is also a small network of hiking trails offering visitors the opportunity to experience the beautiful contrast between reverine middleveld habitats and Highveld open grassland. The nature reserve also offers excellent bird watching opportunities.

• Swazi Candles

Guests can enjoy the vibrant, music filled workshop in the Malkerns Valley where they can interact with the candle artisans as they work their magic. The beautifully intricate designs of Swazi Candles use the ancient technique known as "millifiore". Millefiore, or, "thousand flowers", first surfaced in Alexandria, but was perfected in the great glassmaking cities of Murano and Venice. The Swazi Candles shop is situated a few kilometers from the Luju venue and is located in a complex where visitors view local and African fashion; design arts and crafts; and relax amidst beautiful views at a coffee shop within the centre of it all.

• Tree Top Canopy Tour

Experience the thrill of gliding through the forest canopy in one of the last mountain wilderness areas left in Swaziland. The Malolotja canopy tour offers most dramatic scenery you will ever encounter with striking rock formations, towering cliff faces, a rich diversity of flora and fauna, across a lush forest canopy towards the Malolotja mountain forest peaks.

• National Museum and King Sobhuza Park

This National museum is an amazing cultural experience and captures the link that Swaziland has with nature and the love it has for nature, the beautiful mountains, countless rolling hills and green pastures are all depicted in the natural history hall.

BE PART OF THIS NEW EXCITING FESTIVAL!

To become a sponsor, contact marketing@house-on-fire.com
To become a trader, contact curator@house-on-fire.com

Find Out More

Got a few questions? Check out our FAQs here.
Ticketing information as well as travel packages and special offers will be announced in the upcoming weeks. For available accommodation check out the Accommodation Listing HERE
Luju also invites any interested traders, exhibitors and companies to contact us for more information on the opportunities available to be part of this amazing high-end lifestyle event.
For more information please contact luju@house-on-fire.com or call +268 2528 2040.