The MTN Bushfire Festival, which usually attracts the best musicians and thousands of merrymakers from all over the world to the small kingdom of Eswatini, has been postponed.
In a press statement released on Friday, March 13, 2020 the organizers said due to the latest increase in the spread of COVID-19 in Southern Africa and all over the world, they had made the decision, together with their sponsors, partners as well as the government stakeholders to postpone the 14th edition of the festival to May 28-30 2021.
“The Team acknowledges the massive economic and cultural impact that the festival has for local creatives and traders, and the region as a whole. However, these discussions and the ultimate decision to postpone this year’s festival have been guided by a collective priority for the safety of the people of Eswatini, festival guests and staff members,” said the organisers.
The organisers added that all the festival tickets and camping passes that had already been purchased would still be valid for the 2021 festival and for those who would not make it next year, refunds were available.
The Festival was meant to take place from May 29-31 this year and it is one of three major Southern African events to be postponed or cancelled due to the spread of the virus in Southern Africa with the Cape Town International Jazz Festival postponed and Afrikaburn canceled. As of Friday, March 13, 2020, confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in South Africa stood at 24.
