What happened to the Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival?

For some reason, most people are under the assumption that the once-heralded Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival is no more while others are said to be annoyed about the fact that it is going virtual this year.

Last year, the festival was hosted by Mihlali Ndamase and Somizi Mhlongo and was lauded in early 2021 by Kings College London and Rhodes University as a shining example of how festivals have pivoted to virtual platforms in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival will return to television screens across South Africa once again to deliver what organisers promise will be a world-class production. 

To do this, they have booked leading South African musicians Moonchild Sanelly, Oskido, De Mthuda, Makhadzi, Mlindo the Vocalist and Naak Musiq. 

This year, the Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival will be broadcast on SABC 1. 

According to organisers, Buyel’Ekhaya fans took to social media in 2020 requesting that as a festival for the people, the festival should consider placing its show on a public broadcaster for multitudes of South Africans to enjoy, and that is exactly what they have done.

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Festival Founder Nomahlubi Mazwai said she remains steadfast in ensuring that the Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival remains a regular fixture in the lives of South Africans every festive season. 

“The festival was founded on the principle that South Africa is full of rich and diverse cultures, and we should always find meaningful ways to express and confirm our identities. We have always sought to celebrate our individual uniqueness, which expresses itself in artistic forms such as music and fashion,” said Mazwai in a statement. 

The festival has found a way to merge music and fashion in its virtual production this year and the event is set to incorporate fashion from icons such as Mzukisi Mbane of Imprint, Theo Baloyi of Bathu Shoes, Tshepo Mohlala of Tshepo Jeans, among others who will dress the performers during the show.

Pearl Thusi will be taking the baton from Mihlali and Somizi and will fill the role of host for this year’s Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival. She recently hosted the AFRIMA Awards in Ghana.

The festival will be broadcast on SABC 1 on 16 December 2021 at 9pm, straight after Uzalo.