Lesotho’s creative industry received international recognition as songstress Malehloka “Maleh” Hlalele and acclaimed fashion designer Katiso Joachim Tsoho proudly represented the country at the Standard Bank-supported Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival in Eswatini. The event brought together some of Africa’s leading musicians, designers, chefs and entrepreneurs for a celebration of culture, creativity and innovation. Held at House On Fire over the weekend, the eighth edition of the festival attracted more than 10,000 visitors from 26 countries under the theme “A Return to the African Future”. The festival provided a major platform for African creatives to showcase their work while strengthening cultural connections across the continent. Maleh and Joachim’s participation highlighted Lesotho’s growing influence in Africa’s creative landscape and demonstrated the potential of Basotho talent to compete on regional and international platforms.
The Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival has grown into one of Southern Africa’s most recognised cultural events, bringing together diverse creative industries in one vibrant space. This year marked a significant milestone as the festival expanded into a two-day celebration for the first time, allowing visitors to experience a wider range of music, fashion, food and design showcases. The event focused on celebrating African excellence while encouraging collaboration between countries and creative communities. With support from Standard Bank, the festival continues to provide opportunities for artists, designers and entrepreneurs to connect with new audiences and markets. Its growth reflects the increasing importance of cultural tourism and creative industries in driving economic opportunities across Africa.
Maleh represented Lesotho’s music industry among an impressive line-up of African performers who brought different sounds and styles to the festival. The celebrated singer shared the stage with some of the continent’s biggest names, including South African artists Nasty C, Zola 7, Zakes Bantwini, Liquideep and Mandisi Dyantyis, as well as Mozambican singer Neyma. Performances took place across four stages, featuring genres such as soul, jazz, folk, Afro-pop and contemporary African music. Her appearance allowed audiences from different countries to experience the richness of Lesotho’s musical talent. By performing at a major regional festival, Maleh helped strengthen the visibility of Basotho artists and showcased the country’s contribution to Africa’s evolving music scene.
Katiso Joachim Tsoho also used the festival as a platform to present Lesotho’s fashion identity and celebrate the connection between heritage and modern design. Known for blending contemporary fashion with Basotho cultural influences, Joachim’s work reflects the creativity and resilience of Lesotho’s design industry. His showcase demonstrated how traditional inspiration can be transformed into modern fashion that appeals to wider audiences. Fashion has become an important way for African designers to preserve cultural stories while creating products that can compete in global markets. Joachim’s participation at Luju highlighted the role of fashion in promoting Basotho heritage and expanding the country’s creative footprint.
The festival’s organisers and supporters believe Luju has the potential to become one of Africa’s leading cultural and lifestyle events. Standard Bank Luju Director Jiggs Thorne said the institution aims to strengthen the festival’s position as a pan-African platform for emerging creatives and entrepreneurs. He explained that future editions will place greater emphasis on food and fashion while continuing to support music and other creative sectors. The goal is to create more opportunities for small and medium enterprises involved in food, fashion and entertainment. By investing in creative industries, the festival aims to support economic growth while building stronger connections between African countries.
Mr Thorne highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in creating opportunities for African creatives to reach new audiences. He noted that the festival’s development has been carefully planned while maintaining the organic growth that has contributed to its success. Partnerships between countries can allow artists and entrepreneurs to access new markets, share experiences and build sustainable careers. He pointed to the Ecorda festival circuit, which supports more than 100 artists across five festivals in Southern Africa, as an example of how collaboration can create stronger creative networks. Such initiatives can help establish a more connected cultural landscape where talent from countries such as Lesotho, Botswana and Mozambique can benefit from greater exchange opportunities.
The expansion of Luju also reflects a growing recognition that Africa’s creative industries can contribute significantly to economic development. Music, fashion, food and design are not only forms of cultural expression but also sources of employment, entrepreneurship and business growth. Providing platforms where creatives can showcase their work can help them build networks, attract customers and explore new commercial opportunities. For countries like Lesotho, participation in regional events can increase visibility and create pathways for local talent to enter wider markets. Supporting creative industries can therefore contribute to both cultural preservation and economic transformation.
Beyond music and fashion, Luju continued to celebrate African culinary traditions through its “Nguni Foodways” programme. The programme featured renowned chefs, cooking demonstrations, wine and whisky tastings and discussions focused on preserving indigenous food knowledge. The inclusion of traditional cuisine reinforced the festival’s commitment to celebrating Africa’s diverse heritage. Food plays an important role in connecting communities, preserving history and promoting tourism. By showcasing African culinary traditions alongside music and fashion, the festival created a broader celebration of the continent’s cultural identity.
South African music icon Zola 7 emphasised the importance of arts and culture in shaping national identity and inspiring future generations. He described creative expression as an important part of how countries represent themselves to the world. His comments reflected the wider purpose of festivals like Luju, which provide spaces for artists to tell African stories through different forms of creativity. Culture allows communities to preserve their history while adapting to modern influences. The participation of artists from different African countries demonstrated the power of creative collaboration in building shared cultural experiences.
Joachim also highlighted the importance of fashion as a tool for preserving and modernising Basotho culture. He explained that transforming cultural inspiration into high fashion allows designers to showcase creativity while maintaining a connection to their roots. His work represents a growing movement among African designers who are using heritage as a foundation for innovative designs. Through fashion, Basotho traditions can reach new audiences while remaining relevant in contemporary spaces. His presence at Luju showed that Lesotho’s creative identity has a valuable place within Africa’s broader fashion industry.
The participation of Maleh and Katiso Joachim Tsoho at the Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival marks an important achievement for Lesotho’s creative sector. Their contributions demonstrated the strength of Basotho music and fashion while highlighting the opportunities available through regional cultural partnerships. As festivals like Luju continue to expand, they create important platforms for African creatives to connect, collaborate and grow. With increased investment in creative industries, more artists, designers and entrepreneurs can gain opportunities to share their work with wider audiences. Lesotho’s presence at such events reinforces the country’s position as a contributor to Africa’s cultural future and shows the potential of creativity to drive economic and social progress.
Lesotho News WhatsApp Channel | Lesotho News
Join ‘Lesotho News’ WhatsApp Channel
Get breaking Lesotho news — delivered directly to your WhatsApp.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
