Times Of Swaziland: PIGG’S PEAK HOTEL CLOSING FOR NOJA

PIGG’S PEAK HOTEL CLOSING FOR NOJA
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 BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA on 08/11/2019 00:48:00


MBABANE - The Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino will only be embracing guests
attending the Nothern Jazz (NOJA) Gathering tomorrow.
With one day to go to the first NOJA Gathering, event spokesperson, who is also
the hotel’s Marketing Officer, Bachazile Thwala, revealed that the hotel would
be a ‘no-go’ area for people who would not be attending the event.
She said this during an over the phone interview with the Entertainment Desk
yesterday.
Hosted by KITSI MUSIC, NOJA Gathering is slated for tomorrow at the said hotel
in Pigg’s Peak and headlining acts will be iconic Lesotho jazz maestro Tsepo
Tshola and ‘Tigi’ hit maker Sandziso ‘Sands’ Matsebula.
Closed
Thwala said normal operations of the hotel would be closed tomorrow.
“The hotel will only be open to people who are attending the events - even the
casino and the rooms’ area,” said Thwala.
When asked what motivated this decision, Thwala said it was for security
reasons.
“We are doing this to only admit people with wristbands in the venue. This
will make the event safer for attendees,” she said.
She also said there has been an influx of ticket sales in the past two days.
“With about 80 per cent general tickets sold and only 10 rooms remaining, we
are most definitely looking forward to this event.
“We are also currently giving away 10 general tickets, follow both the
Pigg’s Peak Hotel and Casino and KITSI MUSIC Pages on social media to find out
how.”
She further urged the general public to bring their camp chairs to ensure that
they are comfortable on the day.
“We also would like to assure everyone that food and beverages will be charged
at  reasonable prices for the event,” she said.
Tshola, who collaborated with Sands in their song ‘Ngiyathandaza’, has
already landed in the country as the headliner.
Leave
He arrived on Tuesday and will leave after the event.
He is also residing at the Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino with Sands.
“Other entertainers of the event will be Bholoja, Nomalungelo, + 268 and
Indibano Jazz Club DJs Mbusi Motsa known as DJ Briggs, Khulile Kunene aka DJ
Kools, Noncedo Mamba known as DJ Ncedo and finally Sibongiseni Mamba known as DJ
Sibo,” said Thwala.
Brought to the Northern Hhohho region by KITSI MUSIC, popularly known as KITSI,
NOJA will bring together jazz artists to perform with live bands for attendees.
This is the second initiative by KITSI. The first one was the Green Lifestyle
Festival which took place in the month of August this year.
KITSI, an entity that aspires to promote and establish a brand for Eswatini
music, artists and professionals in the entertainment scene, was launched in
June this year.
The entity is under the directorship of Eswatini renowned afro-soul artist
Sandziso ‘Sands’ Matsebula.
Interview
In an interview with this journalist a month ago, Tshola confirmed that he was
part of NOJA.
“I am excited to work with Sands, whose immense success and talent at such a
young age has given me great joy. I would like to celebrate music and life with
Sands” said Tshola.
Eswatini is becoming a home to music festivals as this year only, over five
festivals were launched and they include the Green Lifestyle Festival, Eswatini
International Music Festival, Baceth Hardware Festival, Spring Spin Bash
Eswatini, Converse All Star Festival Eswatini and many others.