MTN Bushfire is deepening its commitment to nurturing Africa’s creative future through a groundbreaking new partnership with Gender@Work. This is a women empowerment-centred initiative of the Music In Africa Foundation, implemented in partnership with Scènes Australes, Women In Live Music, Accès Culture, Siemens Stiftung, Goethe-Institut and Région Réunion.
At the heart of this collaboration is a bold 2026 focus. A cohort of nine women from Eswatini will be empowered with the opportunity to take part in an intensive, hands-on development programme designed to accelerate their entry into the live music industry. This first-of-its-kind initiative in Eswatini marks a significant step towards building a more inclusive, sustainable and equitable creative ecosystem.
As a leading driver of Eswatini’s creative economy, MTN Bushfire continues to champion its Bring Your Fire mandate by creating meaningful, career-shaping and arts development opportunities for emerging talent. Through this partnership, participants will engage in an in-depth 11-module training programme during the week leading up to the festival, gaining immersive, real-world experience across key festival operations. The programme will cover accreditation, logistics, artist liaison and backstage training to offer the women participants direct exposure to the workings of a major international festival. The initiative is designed to equip the cohort with practical skills, industry insight, and professional networks that support their long-term careers in the live music and events sector.
Gender@Work is a pioneering pan-African programme that has, since 2019, supported women across more than 20 African countries to build careers in the music industry. Focused on areas such as artist management, live sound, and stage production, the programme combines structured learning with mentorship, networking, and hands-on application. This initiative has become a recognised pipeline for strengthening women’s participation and leadership within the continent’s music ecosystem.
The introduction of Gender@Work to Eswatini represents a pivotal moment for the local creative industry. It directly responds to persistent gender disparities within the live music sector while reinforcing Eswatini’s position within the broader African creative landscape. By investing in skills development, exposure, and professional access, MTN Bushfire is helping to shape a more equitable and resilient industry that better reflects the diversity and dynamism of African creativity.
This partnership also underpins MTN Bushfire’s wider commitment to sustainability, understood not only in environmental terms, but also as the long-term building of cultural and economic value. By creating structured pathways into the industry, the festival continues to support the growth of Eswatini’s creative ecosystem beyond the stage.
The Gender@Work collaboration forms part of MTN Bushfire’s broader arts advocacy ecosystem, alongside initiatives such as the Arts Round Table (ART) in partnership with the Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC), the EU Bushfire Schools Festival, the MTN Bushfire Firefly youth talent competition, and the CollaboNation music collaboration project. Together, these arts development platforms create a continuum of development, supporting dialogue, mentorship, and access at different stages of creative careers, as well as solidifying the pipeline for emerging talent in Eswatini.
This partnership stands as a powerful testament to MTN Bushfire’s enduring legacy of advancing sustainable change.
For more information visit: https://www.musicinafrica.net/about-project-genderwork
