Swazi Observer

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IF’S LOUNGE MBABANE OPENS WITH A BANG

By KHETSIWE KHUMALO | 2024-12-30

IF’s Lounge Mbabane, officially opened its doors on Saturday night, offering a new rooftop experience that is already making waves in the city.

The venue provided a vibrant atmosphere, setting the stage for an exciting night of music and entertainment.

The evening kicked off with Judah, who took the crowd by surprise with his songs titled ‘Ndodakazi’ and new song ‘Ngikhetsa Wena’, to be released in his fourth upcoming album.
His smooth vocals and lively stage presence quickly got everyone in the mood for the night ahead.

However, it was Thebe, the night’s headliner, who truly stole the spotlight. Known for his powerful stage presence and impressive dance moves, Thebe delivered a high-energy performance that had the crowd singing and dancing along to his hits.

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His set was packed with the crowd’s favourites and he kept the energy flowing throughout the night, solidifying his status as the star of the show.

As one of the South African headliners, the kwaito legend left nothing on stage.
He showed great enthusiasm in performing for the crowd that appreciated his old skool songs and dance moves.

Thebe, was cut short from his performance due to electricity outage. however, that did not dampen his mood as he later got back on the stage and displayed his deejaying skills behind the decks, on the same old skool music tip.

Saxaphonist Jay Sax was another thrilling act.
He came on stage unexpectedly and caught the attention of attendees. Jay Sax showed great skills in his sax infused amapiano mix, much to the crowd’s enjoyment.
Being his first time in the country, he said he was happy with the welcome he received from Emaswati.

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The saxaphonist stated that for every first time appearance, he made sure to do his research first, to try to understand who he would be playing for.

He added that he had friends such as Bloss who he was normally with in Pretoria, stating that he was an inside man in explaining the local crowd’s preference.

“The venues’ atmosphere, the people, the mood and everything about the event was nice for me, it felt like home,” he said.

Jay Sax shared how he was a pastor’s child and going into music, he was restricted to gospel but had elevated and embraced other genres such as amapiano and jazz.

Afrobeat musician Zaba had a sing along moment with the crowd during the rendition of his most loved ‘Emthandayo’ song.

The musician who stated that his performance style did not require him to prepare as he was someone who freestyles on the spot, said he was happy to have received so much love from the crowd.

“It made me feel so special and loved by Emaswati,” he said.
EeQue brought fire to the IF’s Lounge stage with his present energy.

Another memorable moment was the fireworks spectacle displayed during the performances.
The event marked a successful debut for IF’s Lounge, which quickly proved itself as a promising venue for both music and nightlife in Mbabane.

With great performances, a lively crowd, and a stunning rooftop setting, the launch was a night to remember. One fun-lover, Dumo Motsa said “it is clear that IF’s Lounge is set to become the go-to spot for future events in the city. I truly enjoyed the night.”

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