Mozambique

BUSHFIRE FESTIVAL LIGHTS UP SWAZILAND

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• published: 31 Jul 2015
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LEADIN Bushfire is an annual socially-conscious music and arts festival in Swaziland. It's aimed at demonstrating an alternative lifestyle, but also at bringing people together to enjoy music, poetry and art in the beautiful Ewulwini valley. STORYLINE: Here in Swaziland a unique festival is underway. Swaziland's flagship arts event- the Bushfire Festival - takes place every year on these lush slopes of the Ewulwini Valley, known as the valley of heaven. The three-day gathering is now in its sixth year and brings together artists, poets, musicians and some 15,000 festival-goers - to share performances, creativity and ideas. It's the first Bushfire appearance for this troupe of drummers and puppeteers from neighbouring Mozambique, but they're already attracting a captivated audience. The giant papier mache heads are a recent design collaboration between artists at Maputo's Franco-Mozambican cultural centre and the performers themselves. Today's story tells of a corrupt policeman extorting a bribe from a market seller - all through thumping drumbeats and stylised movements. The troupe of 21 say they develop their own storylines - drawing upon their own everyday lives. Puppeteer Dimas Carlos Tivane says: "We must show the people what's the life in Mozambique, you know. And the story shows the life in Mozambique." And the festival's theme of social consciousness stretches beyond the ethos of performers. In the market area, intricate woven Swazi crafts are on offer, alongside honest, locally-grown vegetarian food from the "Guba" Cafe. Choosing to snub usual festival fare like hot dogs, burgers and pizzas, these diners lounge on up-cycled furniture made from disused wooden pallets and spools of electrical wire. Sam Hodgson and his staff at Guba are run off their feet preparing roast beetroot salad, warm pumpkin curries and spicy chai tea - all made from locally-sourced ingredients or grown by families on their community farm. Hodgson says it's all in keeping with the ethos of the festival and while it's all about having fun, there's a serious message to spread. "It has a serious edge to it as well," he says. "Because, you know, there are a lot of social issues in this part of the world, and Swaziland has the highest HIV rate in the world. And it's just a great opportunity to remind people that it's really useful to remember that. And while you can still have a great time, just to be contributing to something positive at the same time." Metres away from Sam's smoothies, several hundred people are doing just that - getting fully involved. Steve Barnett is the Silent Conductor - bringing disparate audiences together in musical harmony - without ever uttering a single word. Each candy-coloured plastic pipe represents a different woodwind note - and strangers come together in symphony. Barnett says: "All people have that kind of childlike thing, that they want to respond to. They all want to be a part of the music. So this is an opportunity to allow people, who would usually think of themselves as not being musical, to be a part of the music." But this year, Bushfire has faced some discord - with some calling for an informal cultural boycott of the mountain kingdom - in defiance of what they say is King Mswati III's undemocratic reign. Swazi singing sensation Bholoja says he still chose to play at the festival. Bholoja, Swazi singer: "If you are a musician, you are a messenger. And you must be a messenger that will build nations, that will build Swaziland, that will build South Africa, that will build Africa and the world at large." And as a mellow afternoon turns to a smoky dusk, punters don their warm jumpers and come together in celebration of music and poetry with a flavour of political comment. ==== You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a9a7be88a70d8beb5bfaff3e0ade327e Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork