FNB Eswatini continues to contribute towards the development of arts and music in Eswatini as the bank has just announced a sponsorship package worth E165 000 for the MTN Bushfire festival.

Through this year’s contribution, FNB is continuing and reaffirming its partnership with MTN Bushfire as the event’s Official Banking Partner.

The sponsorship includes E115 000 in cash, and E25 000 in bank charges reversals for the Digital Series, and a further E30 000 in cash to support The Collab.

“Arts play a pivotal role in the creative economy of any nation. But like any other sector, it has also been adversely affected by the pandemic. As a bank, we therefore saw it important to provide real help towards the MTN Bushfire festival as it is a platform that contributes directly to the development of the arts, artists and growing Eswatini’s creative economy,” said FNB Chief Marketing Officer, Zethu Dlamini.

The bank is actively supporting local arts development because it is a livelihood for thousands of emaSwati. She says it is more prudent now to help boost the local creative economy because it has been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are especially grateful for sponsorship at this time, when companies are facing numerous and unexpected challenges due to Covid. The creative industry has been particularly hard hit by the effects of the Covid pandemic, and this sponsorship is much appreciated because it allows us to continue to play a role in supporting the arts in Eswatini,” said MTN Bushfire Creative Director Jiggs Thorne, thanking FNB.

Dlamini explained that, as a bank that leverages technology, FNB supports this year’s MTN Bushfire Digital Festival, and added that the Sands collaboration will have positive spin-offs in terms of cultural exchange, tourism and development of the music sector.