MALKERNS– The Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival has strengthened its commitment to fostering regional collaboration after officially launching its 2026 edition in Maputo, Mozambique, reinforcing its growing role as a platform for cultural exchange, tourism and creative economic development between Eswatini and Mozambique.
Hosted at the Standard Bank Incubator Hub in partnership with Standard Bank Mozambique, the stakeholder and media launch brought together government officials, artists, tourism stakeholders, entrepreneurs and development partners, highlighting Luju’s vision of using creativity as a catalyst for regional growth.
The launch comes ahead of the eighth edition of the festival, which will take place from August 1–2, 2026, at House On Fire in the Malkerns Valley. This year’s event marks the first time Luju will be presented as a full two-day experience under its founding philosophy, “A Return to the African Future.”
Speaking during the launch, Standard Bank Mozambique Director of Marketing and Brand Management Dayse Madeira Correia said the bank believes culture has become an important driver of economic development across Africa.
She said investing in cultural initiatives helps celebrate African identity while creating opportunities for young people and supporting the continued growth of the continent’s creative industries.
Representing Standard Bank Eswatini Head of Brand and Marketing Sanele Khumalo, Temaswati Dlamini said Luju has evolved beyond being a national celebration into a continental platform that connects people, creativity and opportunities across borders.
“What began as a celebration in a single market has grown into something much bigger. Today, it is a movement that connects people, creativity and opportunities beyond borders,” she said.
Luju Festival Creative Director Jiggs Thorne said the decision to launch the festival in Mozambique reflects the country’s growing importance to the event.
He noted that Mozambique is currently Luju’s second-largest market and shares deep cultural and historical ties with Eswatini, making it a natural partner in the festival’s continued expansion.
“There is a very clear purpose behind what we do. We are not simply entertainment organisers. We are committed to harnessing the transformative power of the arts and using it as a vehicle for growth and development,” Thorne said. He added that Luju is intentionally creating new
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