The Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival, back for its 5th edition is a unique and sophisticated African-vintage styled celebration of the local, the wholesome, the creative, and the delicious, truly a sensory experience. Luju is a lavish two-day feast of music, fashion, entertainment, culinary exploits, and connoisseur-led premium wine and whiskey showcases, taking place in Eswatini on the 4th – 5th August 2023.
This regional and authentically local food and fashion festival celebrates the local, the wholesome, the creative and the delicious, proudly showcasing the amazing, diverse tastes of Southern Africa. The 2023 edition, with the support of Standard Bank Eswatini, will be a uniquely Southern African affair. The exciting food and fashion themes for The Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival have also been finalized with eclectic and innovative programmes being planned across the two-day event. These uniquely curated programmes will also once again by accompanied by the high-quality range of African and global sounds from top artists from the Southern African region and beyond.
The Culinary Programme will feature Chef Mokgadi Itsweng and Charcutier Richard Bosman from South Africa, as well as international wine judge Tinashe Nyamudoka from Zimbabwe. Chefs from Eswatini include renowned Chef Malinga, as well as two competitors from last year’s Luju Pick n’ Pay Culinary Cook-Off: Chef Justina Bain and King Terry.
Additionally, Luju will once again host an exciting range of music styles that reflect the festival’s growing regional and international footprint, with artists such as Mandisi Dyantyis, Lwazi Dlamini, The Joy, Painted Flowers, Lenna Buhule, Dusty & Stones and DJ Bob amongst others.
Mandisi is an acclaimed vocalist, trumpeter and musical director from South Africa known for his versatility in Jazz, Western Classical and African indigenous music while Lwazi Dlamini is a baritone opera singer from the Cape Town Opera.
Also hailing from South Africa are Painted Flowers, Jo’burg’s new alternative six-piece who exude a rich vintage flair, mixing a ’60s rock tone with a Country and Blues twang. In a similar vein, the award-winning homegrown Dusty & Stones will bring their Eswatini based country music to the Luju stage.
In less than three years, South Africa’s The Joy has become known for its ability to spread instant euphoria with a unique sound that has the ability to transcend genre and continents alike.
With the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival taking place over two days this year, guests are invited to stay on-site in Luju style with ready-erected canvas or nylon tents, hot showers and new ablution blocks, available for both Friday and Saturday nights.