Africa-Press – Eswatini. The country’s youth is advised to use the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival as a springboard to innovate, while holding on to their cultural heritage.
This was said by Minister of Sports, Culture, and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima in the evening of July 4, 2025. This was during the launch of the 7th edition of the Standard Bank Food and Lifestyle Festival. The event is set to take place on August 1 and 2, 2025.
Speaking through a video, which was played during the event, Minister Nzima said the youth should embrace their heritage as a springboard for innovation. He further advised them to let their ideas shape the future of the African continent, and they should not be ashamed when doing that.
He also thanked the festival goers, cultural enthusiasts, and other partners for embracing the spirit of Africa through events such as the Luju festival. He then wished for everyone to use the Luju festival as a source of unity, inspiration, and joy.
The minister also stated that Luju festival could be used as space for dialogue for the youth and everyone who could wish to attend the event. In this dialogue, there would be an opportunity for local talent to fuse with the global one, while tradition fused with futurism. The festival, according to Minister Nzima, embodied his Ministry’s commitment to preserve cultural heritage, in line with Eswatini National Arts and Culture policy. One of the aims of this policy, according to the minister, is to use the creative industry and make it one of the engines of economic development in the country.
Luju had become a key platform for artists, chefs, designers, and performers to express authentic African creativity, opening pathways for innovation and youth employment, according to the minister. He said through the support of His Majesty’s Government, his Ministry was proud to support the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival, as it aligned with his Ministry’s objective of developing a vibrant cultural economy.
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