Amapiano Sensation Kelvin Momo to Headline eThekwini Shisanyama Festival

Durban – The eThekwini Shisanyama Festival is making a comeback for its second year on 26 September 2026, with Amapiano sensation Kelvin Momo headlining this Heritage Month celebration at Berea Rovers in Durban.

This festival brings together food innovators, music lovers, and communities from all over KwaZulu-Natal, honoring South African music, culture, and traditional cuisine.

It further emphasizes the growing significance of township food culture, illustrating how local shisanyamas generate employment, draw visitors, and enhance the local economy.

Lunga Mkhize, the festival’s founder and proprietor of Metro Gents Shisanyama in Umlazi, reveals that the event was inspired by the late Jabulani “Mjay” Zama, who founded the esteemed Eyadini Lounge and shifted perceptions regarding township entrepreneurship.

“Mjay showcased that a shisanyama could be more than just a meal spot,” Mkhize states.

“He crafted a destination that invited individuals from various backgrounds, while also creating opportunities for the local populace.

“His vision continues to motivate those of us running shisanyamas today, and this festival seeks to uphold that legacy.”

Mkhize emphasizes that the festival was established to give emerging enterprises the exposure needed to shape Durban’s dynamic township food scene.

“There are numerous talented individuals in KwaZulu-Natal who have started businesses focused on the braai,” he remarks.

“Many began by selling meat on street corners or in bustling areas before moving to permanent locations.

“We aimed to develop a platform for these businesses to present their offerings to thousands in one setting.”

The festival is set to feature local meat sellers from across the province, many of whom operate small, independently-owned establishments.

Their involvement is anticipated to stimulate economic activity while familiarizing visitors with the rich variety of KwaZulu-Natal’s shisanyama culture.

This initiative also arrives at a critical moment, as youth unemployment remains a major socio-economic challenge in South Africa.

For many young entrepreneurs, food businesses present a viable path to self-employment, with shisanyamas and street food ventures increasingly turning into sustainable commercial enterprises.

“By supporting local vendors, we uplift families, create jobs, and foster small businesses,” declares the founder of the eThekwini Shisanyama Festival.

“We envision this festival as a space for entrepreneurs to build meaningful business relationships while showcasing the quality of their products.”

Mkhize discloses that the decision to host the festival during Heritage Month is intentional.

“Heritage can manifest in many forms, but food is one of the unique elements that naturally unites people,” Mkhize articulates.

“Whether your family enjoys pap and vleis, braaibroodjies, boerewors, lamb, or chakalaka, the braai serves as a communal experience across cultures.

“We aimed to foster a space where individuals from diverse communities can come together to celebrate that bond.”

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