MALKERNS – Bafana Mavimbela and Lindo Dlamini walked away with the Best Dressed Male and Female titles at the 8th Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival on Saturday, each taking home E3,000 in cash plus sponsor prize hampers.
The two were selected from festivalgoers who caught the eye of the Best Dressed Fashion Police patrolling the grounds at Malandela’s in Malkerns, with judges singling them out for how convincingly they brought this year’s theme, Kwasukasukela, meaning “Once Upon a Time,” to life through their outfits.
Bafana, who won the Best Dressed Couple title alongside his partner at Luju 2025, returned this year and claimed the solo male crown. His look fused traditional elements with contemporary cuts, pairing bold, clean lines with African print and statement accessories. South African fashion guru and this year’s judge Thula Cindi put it plainly from the main stage: “He looked like the future and the past all in one.” 
Judges said his outfit felt rooted in culture while remaining forward-looking, a combination they felt spoke directly to where Eswatini fashion is heading.
Lindo took the female title with a flowing, sculpted silhouette in rich tones, layered with beadwork and fabric choices that nodded to Eswatini heritage while staying fresh and modern. Her styling, from accessories to shoes, was deliberate throughout, and she became one of the most photographed guests on Day 1 of the two-day festival.
Both winners were presented with their prizes and the Luju Crown on the main stage. The festival runs through Sunday, August 2, at the House on Fire grounds in Malkerns.
