Indigenous singer Abao to perform at Eswatini music festival

Taipei, May 21 (CNA) Indigenous singer Abao will set a major milestone when she performs at the three-day MTN Bushfire festival in Eswatini at the end of May, Taiwan's embassy in the African country said Wednesday.

When the Paiwan singer performs on the event's main stage on the festival's second day of May 31, it will be the first performance by a Taiwanese artist at an international event in Africa, the embassy said in a statement.

Abao is being introduced by the organizers as "one of Taiwan's biggest stars, blending soul, R&B, hip hop and electronic with traditional Paiwan folk music."

Dremedreman, a nominee for best new artist at this year's Golden Melody Awards and another Indigenous singer of Paiwan descent, will perform at the Bring Your Fire Zone on June 1, the embassy said.

The Bring Your Fire Zone stage is an intimate acoustic stage, according to event organizers.

Taiwan's embassy in Eswatini -- Taiwan's only formal diplomatic ally in Africa and one of only 12 in the world -- said that organizers of the event reached out to the office asking about possible acts for the festival.

Among several performers recommended by the office, the organizers specifically requested Abao and others who showcase a strong sense of Taiwanese culture, the statement said.

Their participation received the support of Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and funding from private businesses of both countries, the statement said.

Jeremy Liang (梁洪昇), Taiwan's ambassador to Eswatini, said the two countries have collaborated for many years in the economic, agricultural and medical domains but that this was the first cultural and musical interaction between the two.

According to its official website, the MTN Bushfire is one of Africa's largest annual multicultural gatherings. First held in 2007, it features some of the "finest musical and artistic talents from across Africa and around the globe."

(By Wu Kuan-hsien)

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