SIMUNYE Fest organisers have revealed that the highly anticipated festival will feature 12 interconnected experience zones designed to create a fully immersive experience for attendees.
The announcement was made during the official media launch held at Happy Valley Hotel yesterday morning, where members of the Simunye Fest organising committee outlined their vision for what they described as more than just a music festival.
Simunye Fest organising committee member Msutfu Masilela said the event represented a movement built around culture, creativity, entrepreneurship and unity.
“Simunye Fest is not just a music event with extras. It is a fully integrated cultural, entrepreneurship and lifestyle ecosystem purpose-built for the modern African audience,” said Masilela.
The festival, set to take place in Vuvulane in the Lubombo region from October 23 to 25, would span 7.85 hectares and is expected to attract more than 5 000 attendees.
According to Masilela, the 12 experience zones would include the main stage, nomad valley camping, impact hub, creator and influencer hub, fashion and lifestyle zone, carnival games, family zone, tourism and cultural experience, as well as networking and VIP experiences, among other attractions.
Masilela said the festival’s name, which means ‘We Are One’ in Siswati, reflects a commitment to bringing together communities, youth and creatives while creating opportunities for economic growth. He also highlighted that the move from the originally proposed venue at Goshe Szokolay Stadium in Simunye to Vuvulane had opened new opportunities for the festival.
“Sometimes a door closes so that the right door can open. We are not just throwing a festival. We are opening a gateway,” he said, adding that Vuvulane’s strategic location along the East three corridor placed the event within reach of visitors from Mozambique and South Africa.
Beyond entertainment, Masilela said the festival would also focus on community development through initiatives such as a men’s mental wellness programme, a charity drive in partnership with the Vuvulane Town Board and a STEM education programme at Vuvulane Primary School.
Part of the organising committee members, Siyabonga Dube and Sakhile Nkambule, further engaged with the media through a detailed slideshow presentation of the festival’s floor plan and answered questions regarding the event’s layout and experiences.
With partnerships already secured from sectors including Eswatini Broadcasting Information Services (EBIS) for media, Emerge Care as medical partner, Jägermeister and Corner Street Liquors as beverage partners, as well as Vuvulane Town Board.
Masilela added that they believed Simunye Fest had the potential to become one of the region’s biggest cultural and economic gatherings. The three-day festival will be held under the theme; ‘One People. One Rhythm. One Moment’.
