An extravaganza of colour, fashion, design, music and graphics wrapped up what the Mahindra Fusion Fest set out to celebrate.
Some of the country’s top talent took to the stage at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on March 2026, where hundreds of attendees were treated to an array of genres from alternative Afrikaans music to uMaskandi, gospel, amapiano, Afropop and, of course, hip hop.
For six hours, performers showcased the country’s creative diversity while collaborating on a spectacle that also introduced the new Mahindra XUV 3XO.
At one point during the show, the stage transformed into a runway for a fashion showcase featuring designs by contestants in the Mahindra Talent Competition.
The show was set against a vibrant backdrop of artwork created by finalists in the Mahindra Art Search, adding a visual dimension to the evening’s performances.
Beyond entertainment, the festival served as a platform for emerging visual artists, designers and musicians.
Mahindra Fusion Fest thrusts emerging visual artists, designers and musicians under the spotlight. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
Some of the top talents scouted by the Mahindra team walked away with a grand prize of R30,000 each in their respective categories.
One of the winners, Anda Mncayi, said he plans to invest the money back into his craft.
The concert unfolded in four themed segments.
The first, “Rewind the Revolution”, featured Zoe Modiga, Mafikizolo, Kurt Darren and Claire Johnston, delivering nostalgic performances of classic hits such as Kaptein and Emlanjeni.
The evening then shifted into “Hip Hop Most High”, with performances by Blxckie, Maglera Doe Boy and the Tshwane Gospel Choir.
Mahindra Fusion Fest thrusts emerging visual artists, designers and musicians under the spotlight. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
Audience members could be seen dancing and moving to the powerful blend of lyricism and gospel harmonies.
The third segment, “Femme For All”, highlighted female-led performances by Nomfundo Moh, Karen Zoid, Naledi, Aphiwe and Mariechan. The artists paid tribute to late South African music icon Zahara with a moving rendition of Loliwe.
The festival concluded with “About Now”, where Zee Nxumalo, Daliwonga and Khuzani closed the night with energetic performances that had the arena on its feet, singing along to their hits.
