By Nkhensani Mthombeni
- Thousands celebrated Limpopo’s marula season with music and traditional beer at the Phalaborwa festival.
- Top artists including Makhadzi, Zonke and Benjamin Dube kept crowds dancing all night.
Thousands danced the night away at the Marula Music Festival in Phalaborwa this weekend, celebrating Limpopo’s famous wild fruit with music stars and traditional beer.
The two-day party at Impala Park Stadium brought together top performers like Makhadzi, Zonke, Benjamin Dube, King Monada, Miss Hillary, Simmy, and Lufuno Dagada, running from Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning.
The festival honours the marula fruit, which has been used by local communities for thousands of years. Women in rural areas still make traditional marula beer the old-fashioned way—collecting fallen fruit, ripening it in sacks until yellow, then squeezing out the juice.
“On day two, the juice is sweet enough for children to drink. But by day three, it ferments into beer for the grown-ups,” explained one of the brewers at the festival.
The two-week celebration included family events like marathons, career shows, a mayor’s dinner party, a funfair, and golf games at Ba-Phalaborwa Golf in the Wild.
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba joined the festivities with her MECs, taking to the stage to encourage responsible partying.
The music had something for everyone. Makhadzi lit up the crowd with her signature energy, while Zonke’s smooth voice had couples swaying together.
Gospel star Benjamin Dube led the audience in worship songs, and Lufuno Dagada performed a special tribute to the premier.
Beyond brewing beer, locals use the versatile marula fruit to make cosmetics, jams, and other products.
Pictured above: The Marula Festival.
Image source: Supplied by the office of the Premier
