“God did! This was the hardest edition we needed to do, I’m not lying or bluffing but there was a point I wanted to quit or postpone but I kept praying for such bad energy. This is undoubtedly the best Eswatini Farmers Market for me”
These were the words of Melting C Events director Culolami Mbekezeli Dlamini following the fifth edition of Farmers Market, which received praise from patrons, performers and performers. Despite considering quitting or postponing, he pushed ahead, later describing the outcome as his best Farmers Market experience hosted at Malkerns Country Club.
Among the aspects praised by attendees was the team’s willingness to help. One woman, making a public statement, who attended the event for the first time and by herself, said event staff would drop what they were doing to assist her when she bought an incorrect ticket and needed to walk to the gate and just navigating the venue handheld and without any attitude, while other positive feedback highlighted safety, proper planning, the convenience of a cashless environment and a good balance of vendors and beverage suppliers.
The fifth edition brought together music, food, fashion and activities for different age groups, continuing Farmers Market’s role as a platform for local brands, vendors and creatives to connect with audiences.
The event also welcomed Nkomanzi Farmers Market from South Africa, which came through to set up and perform. The participation reflected the regional collaborations the festival has built, following an opportunity for Farmers Market Eswatini to activate at Nkomanzi’s own event in South Africa recently.
The exchange points to growing links between event organisers across the region, creating opportunities to share audiences and support one another’s platforms.
The fifth edition also featured a cowboy theme, encouraging attendees to dress for the occasion under the theme “Look Like A Cowboy”. The music offering included 3Step and Afro-tech Gqom and Amapiano, alongside performances from artists from Eswatini and South Africa. Highlight performances being from Royal Music bringing TikTok challenges to life, Mandisa Mamba with a sultry performance, Sibu Manzini, Argento Dust, Oscar Mbo, Rekorder, Bandora and Ayacity at the indoor Texas stage. Although all performances really delivered their A game.
Beyond the music, the event continued its focus on creating an experience for families. A dedicated Kids Zone, supported by official partner KFC Eswatini, provided an activity space for younger attendees.
The combination of music, fashion, food and family activities formed part of the wider experience that has helped Farmers Market establish its place on Eswatini’s events calendar.
For Dlamini, however, the latest edition came with significant pressure behind the scenes. His message offered a glimpse into the challenges of organising an event of this scale, even as the public response provided a positive end to the experience.
For vendors and local brands, such gatherings provide opportunities to introduce products to new customers. For performers, they offer a platform to reach audiences, while patrons get to experience different aspects of local food, fashion and entertainment in one place.
Although Dlamini described the fifth edition as particularly difficult to deliver, his reflection showed that the experience had not diminished his appreciation for the event.
With the fifth edition now concluded, the positive response gives Melting C Events a foundation to build on as it considers the future of Farmers Market as well as the other events curated by them.
