MALKERNS – Taiwanese singer Abao, accompanied by the Nanguaq all-female band and rapper R.fu, delivered a high-energy performance at the MTN Bushfire Festival on 31 May 2025, drawing loud cheers from thousands of festival-goers at the Malkerns Valley.
The performance, held under clear night skies, brought a unique cultural flavour to the region’s biggest music and arts event. With songs blending traditional Taiwanese Indigenous rhythms and modern beats, Abao and her team had the crowd dancing and waving “Taiwan” placards, many of which were held by Taiwanese nationals, volunteers, and embassy staff.
Their presence in Eswatini was part of a cultural exchange initiative supported by the Taiwan Embassy and TaiwanICDF, which also included members of the medical and technical missions based in the country.
Beyond the stage, the group visited a women’s empowerment exhibition hosted at the festival grounds. The exhibit forms part of TaiwanICDF’s Women Microenterprise Capacity Building Programme, which supports Swati women running small businesses. The stalls—many fashioned from brightly painted shipping containers—displayed colourful beadwork, handmade leather bags, and locally inspired accessories.
During her visit, Abao took time to learn about Swati traditional wear and even traded garments with some of the exhibitors. She spoke of how the symbols and styles used by local women reminded her of Indigenous designs back home in Taiwan.
Her latest music video, Born To Be, was released shortly after the festival and features scenes from her visit to Eswatini, including appearances by Prime Minister Russell Dlamini and Ambassador Jeremy Liang.
The Eswatini government has since invited Abao to serve as a tourism ambassador, opening the door for closer cooperation in culture, creative industries, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
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