Welcome to bhomisa

History of Bhomisa

What is to “Bhomisa”?
Expressed by a snap of the finger against the knuckle to emphasise the impact of something unexpected, “Bhomisa” simply means to explode. This onomatopoeia echoes the sound of the disruption that the arts ignite. Be it through poetry, painting, dance, MCing, puppetry, sculpture or writing, the arts both desire and create a response.

Whether you like it or not, art (in its broadest meaning) should make you react. You should blow up with joy, love, terror, fury or disgust, but you should blow up. First published in 2012, Bhomisa serves as a guide to MTN Bushfire’s innovative developments and strong sustainability mandate.

Each page carries poignant and profound stories of the festival’s impact, unique experiential offerings and world class production through the lens of its diverse community of Fire Starters from Eswatini, across Africa and around the world. Bhomisa is a bold, colourful expression of the arts in print.

‘My Bhomisa’ by Bongi Dlamini, [Founding Editor]

“So, I’m walking down the streets of Babylon this week, and out of the blue I get this message saying, the festival is this weekend, can you contribute to Bhomisa?! I’m immediately thrown back to the early winter of Eswatini – dry, crisp air; dust in the sky and smoke; yellow in the grass and purple in the shadows; Malandela’s farm scrambling to change into its annual festival attire, and the whole of Mahlanya adapting and preparing.

For years my rhythm was set according to the festival; it would start with stress and excitement as we built toward the event. We’d get through the weekend which would always be tough but made easier by the clear enjoyment on everybody’s faces.
We started Bhomisa in 2012, when the festival was only a few years old but definitely ‘blowing up’.

The idea was to use the newspaper as a space for artists to speak about their arts, and for the arts to explode along with the growing success of the festival itself. We wanted to widen the platform, to include writers in the party, to express our excitement and critique for and of the arts in Eswatini.

And now it’s back! The season is upon us! The lineup is published, the tickets are sold out, and if you’re reading this, you’re either at the festival or you’re wondering who’s at the festival. It’s been years since I’ve attended and I don’t know what it’s like nowadays, but I can’t argue the fact that it’s been a major success.

Since its first edition on a rainy September weekend in 2008, with no corporate branding, no cashless payments, no traffic – the festival has literally blown up! The simple fact that this festival is still alive, still finding ways to thrive and grow, is testament to its success.
Amandla.”