By Inside Biz
MTN iPraise, Eswatini’s premium annual gospel music festival was today launched at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini.
This launch marked the official start of activities leading up to the event which will take place at Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre on 29 July 2023.
This year’s event holds the theme “Praise in Colour” which will see the organizers create an outdoor gospel carnival experience for the whole family.
In attendance at the launch were several key stakeholders in the Eswatini gospel music and arts industry including Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries Madze Bulunga, Tom Lin – Director of Destiny Group and the founder of MTN iPraise, Wandile Mtshali – CEO of MTN which is the events lead sponsor, Stanley Dlamini – CEO of Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) and Mcolisi Vilakati – President of the Association of Christian Artists of Eswatini (ACAESWA).
Pastors from various churches around Eswatini were also present, with stage performances being delivered by Omega and Takie Ndou from Spirit of Praise as well as Eswatini’s very own Nothando Dlamini.
This year, MTN iPraise will feature the multi-award-winning Spirit of Praise featuring Benjamin Dube, Omega, Takie Ndou, Dumi Mkokstad and Women in Praise.
Local talent will also join the line-up and will be announced in the festival’s 2nd phase. The third line-up announcement will be a nomination and voting process which will be carried out for another 3 spots on the MTN iPraise lineup.
These artists will remain unknown until the nomination and voting process closes as these are solely in the hands of Eswatini’s gospel fans.
Nominations open today, 21 April and will close on 5 May 2023. This will be followed by the announcement of a Top 10. The public will then vote for a Top 3 from the nominated 10 artists.
Any artist around Eswatini can be nominated to perform on the MTN iPraise stage during the nomination process.
The public is encouraged to download Ayoba and vote for the gospel musicians they would like to be part of this year’s show. Tom Lin, Director of Destiny Group and founder of MTN iPraise comments.
“We would like to thank MTN for once again sponsoring MTN iPraise this year. We are excited about 29 July and look forward to bringing Eswatini yet another edition of MTN iPraise in 2023. We want families to put on their most colourful picnic outfits, bring their camp chairs and join us on the lawns at Mavuso for a gospel carnival as we praise in colour.” Lin noted.
Nominations on Ayoba can be submitted at no charge and via SMS at a cost of E1. Those who would like to nominate on Ayoba can send nominations to 7888 6161 where they can submit the names of their favourite artists. SMS nominations can be sent to 7768.
In addition to nominating artists on Ayoba on 7888 6161, MTN iPraise fans can also look forward to content and giveaways on Ayoba and updates on the festival’s social media channels.
Tickets cost E200 for adults and E100 for kids. Early bird tickets are E180 for adults and E80 for kids. VIP tickets cost E500. Tickets can be bought via Momo MarketPlace, MTN’s ticket sales platform.
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