The 2026 Stanbic Bank Music and Lifestyle Festival proved to be more than just a
premium entertainment showcase this past weekend, positioning itself as a growing
economic platform for local businesses, creatives, and entrepreneurs.
Held at Royal Aria Stadium, the festival attracted thousands from across Botswana
and the region, with revellers turning out in large numbers dressed to match this
year’s theme, Where Urban Culture Lives. From the general access area to the
exclusive VIP section, the event delivered a polished lifestyle experience built
around music, fashion, food, art, and business.
The VIP experience stood out as a major highlight, with guests enjoying executive-
level service, smooth shuttle transfers from parking areas, dedicated lounges,
premium hospitality, and curated networking spaces. Organisers said the event was
designed not only to entertain but also to create an environment where business
and culture meet.
Food stalls, pop-up markets, and the lifestyle village remained busy throughout the
day, with between 30 and 35 exhibitors showcasing their products and services.
Local vendors used the platform to market fashion brands, food businesses, art
pieces, and creative services, while live mural art added to the festival’s urban
cultural atmosphere.
Stanbic Bank Botswana Head of Brand and Marketing Stephanie Sandridge said
growing vendor participation remains one of the bank’s key priorities.
“In terms of exhibitors, I want to believe they were well over 30 to 35, from the
lifestyle village to the food vendors. Definitely an increase from last year, and I
think for us, that is one of the areas we want to see growing. It is a really important
aspect of this event,” she said.
She said that while Stanbic is a financial institution, the bank views platforms like
the festival as an opportunity to connect directly with customers and entrepreneurs
outside the traditional banking environment.
“We are a financial institution, but we need to be close to people. We need to
understand what their dreams and visions are. There is no way we can just sit in the
head office. We want to create platforms where we can interact with our clients
and also people who may have never walked into our branch before,” Sandridge
said.Beyond customer engagement, the bank said the festival delivers direct economic
value through job creation and support for local enterprise. Last year’s edition
employed more than 600 people across hospitality, logistics, security, transport,
production, and event management, with this year’s figures expected to remain
strong.
“It is our way as Stanbic Bank to prove our purpose of driving Botswana’s
growth,” she said.
On stage, the festival featured strong performances from both local and
international artists, helping to maintain high foot traffic throughout the
event. Charma Gal and Culture Spears delivered nostalgic sets, while Dingo
Jowa connected with northern audiences through his folk-inspired sound.
Ezra Neethings performed crowd favourites, supported by an ensemble with KTM
Choir. South African DJs Oskido, Mas Musiq, and Xduppy added an international
dimension, closing the night with high-energy amapiano and house sets.
The festival also rewarded style and fashion, with Shatani Semolokae winning the
Best Dressed title and a P10,000 cash prize.
For Stanbic, the success of the second edition confirms growing demand for
premium cultural events that also serve as economic platforms.
“Seeing it come to life is very meaningful because you plan it and you wonder
whether people will come. They came and showed us they have an appetite for
something like this. It is really a labour of love for Stanbic Botswana, and we will
continue bringing experiences like this,” Sandridge said.
