By Ayanda Dlamini | 2018-06-01

 IT is festivals galore in Eswatini.

 Swaziland Country Music Association on Wednesday launched its first ever Eswatini Country Music Festival which will be held at Riders Ranch, Sidvokodvo, on July 28.

 The Country Music Festival (CMFs), whose aim is to grow the country music genre in order for it to be recognised as a brand, will give artists the opportunity to showcase what they have nurtured for so long. international  acts such as  Jason Badley, Rodeo girls, Lance James and Barbara  Ray, all from South  Africa, and  Esther Konkara from Kenya would grace it. Locally, the festival will have the likes of  Isaac Gamedze, Buddy Masango, Dusty and Stones, CM Simelane, Cleopatra aka Mrs Roses, Learato, Sbu the Cowboy, Zwellie and Sphe.

 “Country music has had little or no exposure in the kingdom and this is one way we wish to rally government, corporates, organisations and the country at large to pay attention to and begin to recognise country music.

“In the past, this genre was left out in multiple award ceremonies locally and yet got recognition internationally. Although we have seen a lot of changes recently, this festival is one way to make our voice heard and get the attention we deserve,” said the festival coordinator Siphesihle Nkwanyane, who will also be performing on the day.

aims

 According to Nkwanyane, the festival aims to support the arts and culture sector in its initiative of promoting the arts towards the attainment of vision 2022.

The festival will  put the Kingdom of Eswatini on the map through country music and form lasting relations with the corporate world.

“This event will also assist in up- scaling young Swati artists and give them the exposure of performing alongside international artists.

This festival will also help to give country music followers the opportunity to mingle in an environment that speaks to them,” she said. 

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