The 2026 MTN Bushfire Firefly Top 10 finalists were officially revealed at the MTN Eswatini Headquarters on Friday, in an event that was described by attendees as “a vibe” filled with energy, excitement, and celebration of Eswatini’s emerging musical talent.
These finalists are set to share the stage with South African chart-topping sensation Blxckie at the highly anticipated Firefly Grand Finale, scheduled for Friday, April 24, at House On Fire.
After another dynamic year of discovering and nurturing the nation’s brightest youth talent, this edition promises a night of exceptional music, artistic expression, and electrifying performances. Blxckie, renowned for his genre-blending style that fuses hip-hop, R&B, amapiano, and melodic trap, brings over 170 million streams and multiple award-winning releases to the stage, ensuring a world-class experience for festivalgoers.
These rising stars, selected through a competitive public voting process, represent the next generation of Eswatini’s music scene, bold, diverse, and unapologetically creative. During the Grand Finale, they will compete for a coveted place in the Top 3, which will be determined through a combination of judges’ scores and public voting, securing a career-defining performance slot at the globally acclaimed MTN Bushfire Festival.
Tickets for the MTN Bushfire Firefly Grand Finale will be available via MoMo Marketplace on Tuesday, 24 April. Fans are encouraged to follow official MTN Bushfire Firefly platforms for ticketing details, announcements, and giveaways. To support your favourite Firefly Artist and vote for the Top 3, visit www.bush-fire.com/firefly Voting closes on Friday, 10 April 2026.
Launched in 2017, MTN Bushfire Firefly is a flagship youth music development initiative aligned with the MTN Bushfire call to action, Bring Your Fire. The competition forms part of the festival’s commitment to arts development, creating meaningful opportunities for young people in Eswatini to access platforms, mentorship, and career growth in the creative industries.
Over the years, MTN Bushfire Firefly has supported over 160 emerging artists, many of whom have gone on to build successful careers locally and internationally. The platform continues to champion the #YoungGiftedFree movement, celebrating trailblazers who are shaping the future of African music through authenticity, creativity, and fearless self-expression.
Follow the MTN Bushfire Firefly journey on social media and join the celebration of Eswatini’s next wave of musical talent.
The 2026 MTN Bushfire Firefly Top 10 finalists are:
- Cool Drop
- Leelo G
- Emagagu
- Sweli
- JD
- Morewish
- As4JerryP
- Hillary Mirindi
- MCO Jamrock
- Kyro
