The Standard Bank Luju Festival which has an impressive track record of empowering local entrepreneurs has reported that in 2023 alone, traders generated a combined total of E2.1 million.

This is according to Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival Creative Director Jiggs Thorne in a press release issued recently.

With a large audience of 10 000 local and regional attendees, Luju provides a unique platform to reach a broader market, not just within Eswatini but across Southern Africa, according to Thorne.

He said the festival fostered cross-regional partnerships in the culinary, fashion, and design industries, further expanding opportunities for local businesses.

Aligned with the missions of Standard Bank Eswatini and House On Fire, the festival prioritised supporting local businesses and nurturing new entrepreneurs, he said.

In 2023, the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival supported about 100 traders.

It took place over a two day period on August 4 and  5,  affording small and medium enterprises (SME) a creative platform to  showcase their products and services in the transformative space with the theme ‘A Return to The African Future’.

Cashless

For the convenience and security of the festival guests, the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival was a cashless event.

The festival further offered a family-friendly environment as the Bee Hive was the Luju Festival where children enjoyed a range of games and activities.

Children indulged in the Rhodes stall which offered a range of juices and competitions, Emlembe water was a hydration station which offered iced cones, Nhlonipho cold-pressed juices, as well as Danny’s Amusement which offered jumping castles, ferris wheel, quad bikes as well as  horse riding.

The Beehive was also a host to youth owned trading stalls Bonbon fluffs, Abigails Confectioneries and Art Hut where children could explore their artistic side through canvas art and face painting among others.

Fashion

The fashion café was a transformational space and a marvel to look at. The café was home to emerging brands where various brands showcased a variety of products varying from up-cycled personal accessories, to candles, beads, fashion, t-shirts as well as jewellery.

The fashion café gave a physical presence to most shops which were mainly online, this provided a platform for the brands to be exposed to their customer base further growing their viewership of the businesses themselves.

The food garden was a platform for food stalls to trade food and express themselves artistically through food as there was also a section for exotic food which was home to Dim SumCliffs Diner, Hau Hong Noodle King, Explorers Smash Burgers as well as Eswatini Tacos, otherwise themed ‘Taste of Africa’.

The festival was also home to Future Icons consisting of 20 traders which were being mentored through the Luju platform.

Standard Bank Chief Executive officer Mvuselelo Fakudze said Standard Bank prided itself for being an enabler of trade.

“As a bank we are happy to facilitate trade, business and promote the arts,” said Fakudze.

He stated that without the arts there was a part of a life experience that would not be fulfilled.

“We want arts to come and showcase what they are capable of so that that part of our being can be fulfilled,” he said.

Fakudze added that the Arts themselves were a business.

“Not to mention the number of jobs which were created by the platform, even that is making a positive impact on the economy,” said Fakudze.

LUJU TRADER APPLICATIONS CLOSE tomorrow

Trading applications for the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival close tomorrow.

Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival Creative Director Jiggs Thorne said final trader selection would be made by Friday July 12.

“Due to the volume of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted. Traders need to incorporate the Luju 2024 theme into their products and services,” reads the release.

Thorne underscored that the application process was done online and links to the application forms can be found on the Luju Festival website, www.lujufestival.com, as well as Luju Festival and House On Fire social media platforms.

“The festival will take place at House On Fire, in Eswatini’s scenic Malkerns Valley, from August 2 and 3, showcasing some of the finest food, fashion, music, design, beauty, entertainment, culinary exploits, premium wine and whiskey showcases, craft beverages and much more from Eswatini and across the continent,” he said.

“The Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival is inviting entrepreneurs in food and fashion, as well as children’s and experiential services, to be part of the festival’s impact in advancing creative SME development through the opportunity to trade at the festival,” he said.

Showcase

Thorne said the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival drew a large local and regional audience of around 10 000 people, offering the opportunity to showcase products to both Eswatini and the Southern African market.

According to Thorne, as part of both Standard Bank Eswatini and House On Fire’s mandates to support local and capacitate new entrepreneurs, ‘Standard Bank Luju consciously uses the festival platform to develop and promote the creative economy, sustainability and small business growth through a series of skills-sharing and best practices workshops and demonstrations held before and during the festival’.

“The Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival comprises a wholesome variety of trading environments called Hives.

Each Hive, or trading environment, offers opportunities for unique experiences. The Culinary Hive is the festival’s food environment which features pop-up food stations that support drinks pairing, tastings and specialised demonstrations by renowned chefs and connoisseurs,” said Thorne.

Fashion, Beauty and Design, including skin, hair care, make up, and design lifestyle brands, are expressed through the Fashion Café Hive, according to Thorne.

“It also features fashion shows and best dressed activations,” he said.

Kids oriented Luju Bee Hive welcomes vendors looking to provide exciting and engaging entertainment and food for children of all ages, while Experiential Services applications are available for traders looking to enhance the festival experience for our guests with massages, hubbly lounges, face-painting and similar, he said.

“Applicants are encouraged to note that the Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival is a 100 per cent cashless festival, using NFC chips on festival wristbands for transactions. Luju is committed to being an eco-friendly event and all traders are required to use eco-friendly packaging,” said Thorne.

By NOMFANELO MAZIYA | 2024-07-22
http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=22580