Tony Dayimane headlines Hipnotik Festival’s triumphant return

South African rap sensation Tony Dayimane is set to headline the eagerly awaited Hipnotik Festival, marking a powerful comeback for Eswatini’s biggest hip-hop celebration.

Scheduled for October 4, 2025, the festival returns after a seven-year hiatus, promising to reignite the country’s creative spirit and youth culture with an electrifying lineup and a renewed mission.

Tickets for the 2025 event are now available, with general admission at E400, VIP access at E800, and exclusive Golden Circle tickets priced at E1,500.

The festival’s revival transcends entertainment; it is a strategic initiative designed to rejuvenate Eswatini’s creative economy and empower young people nationwide. In an exclusive interview, festival director and founder Sakhile Nkambule shared his excitement and vision for Hipnotik’s return.

“We’re incredibly excited. The return of Hipnotik isn’t just nostalgic, it’s strategic,” Nkambule said, emphasising the festival’s role as a critical platform for local creatives, entrepreneurs, and service providers.

He described Hipnotik as “a proven youth-led economic vehicle” that extends far beyond music and entertainment.

The seven-year pause allowed the organisers to reflect on the evolving needs of the creative community and the broader market. Nkambule acknowledged the negative impact the festival’s absence had on Eswatini’s entertainment ecosystem.

“We’ve seen what the absence of Hipnotik did to the local entertainment ecosystem.

Now, we’re here to restore that pulse and take it further,” he explained. While the festival promises an immersive and fun experience, Nkambule stressed that empowerment remains the goal: “It’s business time now, fun is the by-product, but empowerment is the product.”

Hipnotik was founded on the belief that Eswatini’s youth possess immense talent and ambition but often lack the platforms, business skills, and networks necessary to thrive.

“Talent alone is insufficient; it requires platforms, business knowledge, networks, and brand equity. Hipnotik is that convergence point,” Nkambule noted.

Looking ahead, Nkambule envisions Hipnotik as a premier youth development platform anchored in entertainment. He described it as a catalyst for job creation, small and medium enterprise (SME) development, digital storytelling, and brand partnerships.

“This event is a catalyst for job creation, for SME development, for digital storytelling, for brand partnerships,” he said.