Malkerns – The Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival has announced Inganekwane, a family friendly storytelling and adventure theme, for this year’s edition of The Beehive, its children’s village set for the Malkerns Valley next month.
The Beehive returns as part of Luju’s broader family experience from Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 August 2026 at House On Fire, offering families what organisers describe as one of Southern Africa’s most family friendly festival weekends. Inganekwane, the siSwati expression for Folktales, will run as an immersive children’s village celebrating African oral traditions.
Open from 10 AM to 8 PM on both festival days, The Beehive offers a programme of storytelling, creative play and hands on experiences built for children and their guardians. The theme draws from Luju’s overarching concept, A Return to the African Future, and this year’s fashion theme, Kwasukasukela (Once Upon A Time), in a nod to the storytelling traditions that have entertained, educated and preserved cultural wisdom across generations. 
The children’s village brings Luju’s #EatSwayLove experiential offerings to life with family friendly food favourites, interactive games, karaoke and creative workshops. Families will also enjoy quad bikes, jumping castles, bumper cars, a ferris wheel, carousel rides, the Bubble House, a Kids Spa, VR gaming and the Honey Spelling Bee.
The Beehive Stage will host storytelling sessions, karaoke, Bee’s Got Talent, Meet the Maker creative workshops, Meet the Keeper, family games, and the Great Honey Spelling Bee for children and parents alike. Fresh additions for 2026 include the Little Legends Parade, where children can showcase their most imaginative looks in the Kiddies Best Dressed Competition.
“The Beehive has become one of Luju’s most cherished family experiences because it reminds us that every great journey begins with a story,” said Festival Director, Jiggs Thorne. “Through this year’s ‘Inganekwane’ theme, children won’t simply listen to African folktales. They will step inside them. They’ll create, imagine, explore and discover that the stories passed down through generations still have the power to inspire the dreamers, creators and leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
The Beehive is delivered in partnership with a community of local creators, including the Eswatini National Spelling Bee, Swazi Ceramics, ToyJoy and other partners providing educational activities, creative workshops, immersive experiences and family entertainment.
Kids’ tickets remain available for children aged 6 to 12, while children aged 5 years and under enter for free. For adults, Luju Gardens and Premium Lounge tickets are available at www.lujufestival.com and at Standard Bank Eswatini branches in Mbabane (The Corporate Place), Ezulwini (The Gables) and Manzini (opposite Bhunu Mall), as well as Dala Spaces at Malandela’s Lifestyle.
Eswatini residents can also buy tickets through the Unayo Ticketing Service on WhatsApp by sending “Hi” to 7805 6364 and following the prompts.
