Bang! Gae return to Swaziland’s Hipnotik festival

THABANG REGOENG

Local urban music group Bang!Gae will, for the third successive time, return to Swaziland’s annual Hipnotik Festival which is slated for 7th to 8th July at Ezulwini complex.
The seven artist contingent is expected to perform at the event include Donno , Mafoko, Nizee, Sat, Khax, Raizy and Rako. The event is the kingdom’s biggest hip hop festival under the stewardship of Swazi Jive. It will also feature international acts Cassper Nyovest, A Reece, Benchmarq, Case Bukayah, Cr Boy, Gigi Lamayne, KO and Okmalumkoolkat.
Down the years the festival’s stock has increased with the coup of crème de la crème bookings from established artists from South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Swaziland. According to Bang!Gae Managing Director Tshepo Moanakwena the festival bookings have opened up music links between local artists and international acts.
“Since our first booking on the first instalment of the festival the response from the Swaziland people has been amazing, so this shows Bang! Gae is also making a mark outside local borders. We have established connections with young entrepreneurs called Swazi Jaive and we have already have two mix-tapes with them,” Moanakwena told Time Out.
The Yamas 2015 Record Label of The Year award winners have been making strides in the local entertainment industry, with solo album releases, events management and on digital media platforms.
“Young Black recently released his second album titled ‘Do It Now’ and we have created an online digital platform called mono culture where we interview local artists on their music tenures. Besides that, the group has been doing shows in clubs, pubs and parties because we are all about improving the arts industry in Botswana,” the label’s boss said.