After 15 remarkable years at the forefront of one of Eswatini’s most beloved youth arts platforms, celebrated poet and master of ceremonies Black Note has taken her final bow as co-host of the EU Bushfire Schools Festival, marking the end of an era that has shaped a generation of young creatives.
The announcement, made during the official launch of the 2026 edition at the iconic House on Fire at Malandela’s, carried a mixture of pride, nostalgia, and quiet reflection. For many in attendance, Black Note was not merely an MC, she was the heartbeat of the festival, a steady and inspiring voice that guided thousands of young performers through moments of vulnerability, courage, and artistic expression.
Having joined the Schools Festival in 2011, Black Note stepped into a role first held by pioneering MC Steve, quickly making it her own with a unique blend of poetic flair, authenticity, and commanding stage presence.
Over the years, she formed an unforgettable partnership with festival veteran KrTC, and together they became synonymous with the spirit and energy of the platform. Their chemistry, wit, and passion elevated every performance, turning the stage into a safe and empowering space for youth expression.
Her departure, though expected, was deeply felt. Creatives, educators, and festival organisers alike described the moment as bittersweet, celebrating her immense contribution while grappling with the void her absence will leave behind.
In her farewell, Black Note introduced her successor, the vibrant and promising Asakhona Dlamini, a young creative who rose through the festival’s newly introduced mentorship programme for aspiring MCs. The symbolic handover captured the very essence of the festival’s mission: nurturing talent, creating opportunities, and ensuring continuity within the creative ecosystem.
The EU Bushfire Schools Festival, a flagship initiative under the MTN Bushfire Festival’s “Bring Your Fire” call to action, has grown into a powerful force for arts education and youth empowerment. Since its inception in 2010, the programme has engaged over 10,000 learners and hundreds of teachers across Eswatini, offering a dynamic platform for performance, storytelling, visual arts, and critical dialogue.
Black Note’s contribution to this journey extends far beyond the stage. She has been instrumental in shaping the confidence of young artists, mentoring emerging voices, and reinforcing the importance of storytelling as a tool for change. Her presence helped transform the festival from a simple showcase into a movement, one that champions creativity as a driver of sustainability, identity, and social awareness.
As the 2026 edition unfolds under a theme that explores art as a response to global challenges such as climate change and inequality, her legacy remains deeply embedded in its foundation. The upcoming festival on May 28 is set to continue this vision, bringing together young minds in a celebration of innovation, resilience, and artistic courage.
Though she steps away from the microphone, Black Note’s voice will continue to echo through every performance, every poem, and every young artist who dares to take the stage.
And while the spotlight now shifts to a new generation, one thing remains certain, her fire will keep burning in the heart of the festival she helped build.
