MBABANE – Eswatini came alive over the weekend as entertainment, music, theatre, lifestyle experiences and motorsport took over different parts of the country, making the first weekend of October one to remember.
From Friday night into Sunday, revellers had plenty of options, with major events competing for attention across Mbabane, Ezulwini, Sidvokodvo and other parts of the Kingdom.
One of the biggest highlights was undoubtedly South African Amapiano star MaWhoo, popularly known as The RichMonalisa, who brought her highly anticipated experience to Mdzimba View Shisanyama on Friday night.
MaWhoo eventually took to the stage at around 1:30am, performing some of her popular songs, including Amazwe, Ngilimele, Bengicela and Distance. The crowd sang along to her catalogue, with Distance, her collaboration with Lwah Ndlunkulu and Feza, becoming one of the standout moments of the night.
But MaWhoo was only the beginning.
On Saturday, Gin Gardens 2026 took over Sharma House in Ezulwini, offering a different kind of entertainment experience. The lifestyle event combined music, food, drinks, art and social entertainment, with a strong South African and Eswatini line-up.
Sino Msolo, Nia Pearl, Dusse Wavy and Touchline were among the South African acts, while local talent including Velemseni, DJ Tap, Culolam, Gifted Kosie, DJ Ricko, DJ MBO, Lady Zee and others added a distinctly Eswatini flavour to the experience.
For adrenaline lovers, The Return of Mfana WeBhova Volume 2 brought roaring engines and spinning action to Mavuso Trade Centre on Saturday. The event was listed among the weekend’s major attractions, continuing the Mfana WeBhova concept that has previously drawn crowds with its combination of motorsport, entertainment and high-energy action.
Meanwhile, the October International Theatre Festival continued in Mbabane, bringing theatre productions, performances and creative-development activities to the Eswatini Theatre Club from October 1 to 3. The festival featured creatives from Eswatini and across the region, adding a strong arts and culture dimension to an otherwise music-heavy weekend.
The weekend also saw the LaunchPad Business Conference continue at TLC Events Centre in Sidvokodvo, with South African media personality and entrepreneur DJ Sbu among the speakers. The conference, held under the theme “Faith & Business”, provided another option for entrepreneurs and young professionals looking beyond entertainment.
With several events happening almost simultaneously, October opened with a clear message: Eswatini’s entertainment and creative scene is getting busier, broader and more diverse.
From Amapiano and lifestyle events to theatre, business and motorsport, there was something for almost every kind of weekend reveller.
And judging by the packed calendar, the country is showing no signs of slowing down.
Discussion about this post