South African music legend, mentor businessman and philanthropist Oskido will celebrate his birthday in the loudest and most fitting way possible through music, and nostalgia. Johannesburg is host of Oskido’s Big Day Out (BDO) 2nd Edition scheduled for November 29, 2025 falling perfectly on his actual day of birth!
This edition is a journey through 25 years of timeless sounds of house and kwaito music, a compilation of Oskido’s Church House Grooves and Fresh House Flavas by the Legendary DJ Fresh who was in the Kingdom just a few weeks ago with his band. For most producers, DJs and local music lovers this will be a remembering of the tracks that shaped a deep love for the early house music movement that took even Eswatini by storm, birthing the sub genres we enjoy today, from Amapiano, Afro house to Deep house music.
From his early days with Kalawa Jazmee Records, Oskido, real name Oscar Sibonginkosi Mdlongwa, helped shape what became one of Africa’s most unshakable dance genres. His music, along with that of his peers, filled dance floors long before streaming and smartphones.
On stage acts that defined the early 2000s and late 1990s, blending seamlessly with today’s chart-topping producers who still sample those old sounds, carrying the legacy forward.
Oskido is not only celebrated for the many doors he has opened in the creative industry, but also his multi faceted approach to his work, currently working on recent podcast projects, a lifelong mentor, a manager, a comedian, a family man, the list is endless. He shares through video, that his journey never was clear from the get go, that he just had faith and willingness to take any opportunity that was made available to him.
“Perfection is a lie, the world doesn’t need a perfect you but the real you. Every step one takes even with flaws is still progress. Nobody clapped for me in the beginning, no likes for my releases, I played for strangers in clubs while i slept outside in Joubert park but I still showed up every time. Consistency turns even the smallest steps into giant leaps. 25 years later I still Believe”
According to early promotions, Oskido’s Big Day Out will celebrate not only music but also the spirit of communitythat house music created. Fans can expect classic mixes, live performances, and spontaneous collaborations that remind everyone why South Africa and the region remains one of the most loyal homes of house beats.
Plan your trip
As Oskido’s Big Day Out continues to attract fans travelling from across the region, including from Eswatini, this travel guide is a realistic plan for anyone leaving Eswatini on Friday 28 November and returning home on Sunday 30 November. Gautrain has also been announced as an official transport partner, giving festival-goers an easy, comfortable connection from the airport or any city in Gauteng to the Marlboro Station using the train and possible discounts and a chance to socialize.
Event ticket: R495 – R1 950 (general-price tiers; premium/VIP up to R4 950 on some listings). Webtickets
Getting there:
- By Road: Johannesburg is only a four hour drive or public transportation charging at E350 then making way to your preferred accommodation especially around the Melrose, Sandton areas that are minutes away from the venue at Huddle Park.
- By flight: (Sikhuphe SHO Johannesburg JNB): typical one-way fares from E999 – E1 500 on Eswatini Air (running discounted flights for date including this weekend)
Budget for food and other expenses you might incur while you have a great time. Exploring with food is awesome but for events that aren’t too close to your accommodation, it would be advisable to indulge in unusual cuisine and risk skipping the fun because of a tummy bug.
