
FABRICE MUSONERA: A STEADFAST PRESENCE IN ESWATINI SPORTS JOURNALISM
27 May 2024
TV LICENCES IS NEEDED FOR CULTURE AND LOCAL TALENT
1 July 2024Eswatini TV brought the fire at the 2024 MTN Bushfire, with live coverage, interviews, giveaways and real-time updates on social media of the festival.
The TV channel was the official broadcast partner of the event, and it had a studio booth set-up opposite the House On Fire Amphitheatre. The booth welcomed local and international artists right after their performances, where they sat down for live interviews to share their experiences of performing in Africa’s biggest multicultural event.
The talent from Eswatini TV left a mark on the MTN Bushfire, as the event organisers had one of Eswatini TV’s cameramen taking footage of the main stage, and Eswatini TV presenter, Bello Nkhosi, co-MC the MTN Bushfire Ballantine’s stage with rapper King Terry. The talent from the TV channel did not stop there, as a team of producers, cameramen, engineers and content producers disseminated the experience of the event across different platforms.
On Friday May 31st, German-African inclusive band, Seba Kaapstaad, opened the evening mainstage with an electrifying performance. After the performance, the band’s lead singers, Zoe Modiga and Manana, came up to the Eswatini TV studio for a live interview with multi-talented South African media personality William Lehong. Lehong was part of the Eswatini TV presenters team which was made up of Nomalumgelo Jele, Nokuphila Masangane, Chuki Dlamini, and Zambia’s Diamond TV host and Content Producer Wellington Kasonde. The onscreen coalition showcased a blend of Zambian, South African and Swati cultures, which amplified the multicultural ambiance of the event.
The Eswatini TV studio booth welcomed more guests for live interviews, from artists; Makhadzi, Jagermeister Brass Cartel, Bholoja, Dusty and Stones and Umuti, to organization representatives; MTN Bushfire co-founder Jiggs Thorne, Durban Tourism Deputy Head Winile Mntungwa and Gauteng Tourism Chief Marketing Officer Barba Gaoganediwe. This gave the artists and organizations a platform to engage the Swazis and international viewers watching about their brands, and to also give the viewers a corporate and economic aspect of the MTN Bushfire.
To engage more with the festival viewers and attendees, Eswatini TV gave away custom made smartphone ring-lights through a Q&A competition that was run on the channel’s Facebook page. The competition and facilitation of the giveaways was done by Eswatini TV’s Senior Communications and Brand Officer, Nomcebo Malinga, during the Friday broadcast of the MTN Bushfire. After giving away the ring-lights, Malinga commented saying, “the MTN Bushfire is a place to make memories, and with these ring-lights, we want to be part of the moment when people take their selfies.” She added that the engagement through giveaways and inviting organizations and media personalities to be part of the broadcasts was part of Eswatini TV’s drive to connect more with its viewers and partners.
The Eswatini TV Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages added to the engagement by covering the festival with posts of images and videos that gained a collective of over 15,000 views. This online activity was acknowledged by the likes of MTN Bushfire, local influencers, and South African celebrities like Mpho Pholo and Vusi Kunene, who reposted the TV channel’s uploads.