Amapiano Sensation Kelvin Momo to Headline eThekwini Shisanyama Festival
Durban – The eThekwini Shisanyama Festival returns for its second year on 26 September 2026, headlined by Amapiano sensation Kelvin Momo, as part of Heritage Month celebrations at Berea Rovers in Durban.
This festival brings together food entrepreneurs, music lovers, and communities from across KwaZulu-Natal, celebrating the richness of music, culture, and authentic South African cuisine.
It also emphasizes the growing influence of township food culture, showcasing how independent shisanyamas are creating job opportunities, attracting visitors, and contributing to the local economy.
Lunga Mkhize, the festival’s founder and owner of Metro Gents Shisanyama in Umlazi, notes that this event was inspired by the late Jabulani “Mjay” Zama, the founder of the famous Eyadini Lounge, who reshaped the landscape of township entrepreneurship.
“Mjay showed that a shisanyama could become so much more than just a place to eat,” Mkhize explains.
“He crafted a venue that attracted a diverse crowd while generating opportunities for the local community.
“His vision continues to motivate those of us running shisanyamas today, and this festival seeks to honor that legacy.”
Mkhize emphasizes that the festival was established to provide emerging businesses with the exposure they need to shape Durban’s lively township food culture.
“KwaZulu-Natal is home to many talented individuals who have launched businesses centered around the braai,” he notes.
“Many started by selling meat on street corners or in busy areas before moving to permanent locations.
“Our goal was to create a platform where these businesses could showcase their offerings to thousands in one venue.”
The festival will feature local meat vendors from across the province, primarily from small, independently owned enterprises.
Their involvement is anticipated to enhance economic activity while introducing visitors to the rich variety of KwaZulu-Natal’s shisanyama culture.
This initiative is particularly timely, given the persistent challenge of youth unemployment in South Africa.
For many young entrepreneurs, food businesses present a reachable path to self-employment, with shisanyamas and street food ventures increasingly turning into sustainable business operations.
“Supporting local vendors means uplifting families, creating jobs, and fostering small businesses,” states the founder of the eThekwini Shisanyama Festival.
“We hope this festival serves as a space where entrepreneurs can build valuable business relationships while showcasing the quality of their products.”
Mkhize explains that choosing to hold the festival during Heritage Month was a deliberate decision.
“Heritage can be expressed in many ways, yet food is one of the few elements that truly brings people together,” Mkhize shares.
“Whether your family enjoys pap and vleis, braaibroodjies, boerewors, lamb, or chakalaka, the braai is a communal experience across cultures.
“We wanted to create a space for people from different communities to celebrate that connection together.”
The eThekwini Shisanyama Festival is scheduled for Saturday, 26 September 2026, at Berea Rovers, 73 Jacko Jackson Drive, Durban.
Tickets are available for purchase at: https://www.howler.co.za/events/ethekwini-shisanyama-festival-cef5