Lesotho’s music sensation Ntate Stunna continues to cement his growing influence beyond the country’s borders after being announced among the headline performers for the 2026 Ngwathe Spring Experience Music Festival in South Africa’s Free State Province.
Festival organisers have confirmed the award-winning artist as the seventh act on the line-up for the event, which will take place on 26 September at the Fezile Dabi Stadium in Tumahole, Parys.
His inclusion places the Stimela hitmaker alongside some of South Africa’s biggest names, including Sjava, Russell Zuma, Scotts Maphuma, Shandesh and LeeMcKrazy, while media personality Somizi Somgaga will host the festival.
Organisers described Ntate Stunna as one of Lesotho’s biggest musical exports whose distinctive fusion of hip-hop, Afro-pop and Sesotho music has earned him a loyal following across Southern Africa.
“We are excited to officially announce Ntate Stunna as the SEVENTH artist confirmed for the Ngwathe Spring Experience Music Festival 2026! One of Lesotho’s biggest music exports, Ntate Stunna has built a massive following across Southern Africa with his unique blend of Hip-Hop, Afro-Pop and Sesotho music.
Known for hit songs such as ‘Ke Thata’, ‘Izandla Phezulu’, ‘Chelete’ and ‘Stimela’, he is guaranteed to bring an unforgettable performance to Tumahole this September!”
The booking is the latest indication that the Lesotho-born artist is steadily expanding his footprint in South Africa, where his music has enjoyed growing commercial success over the past few years.
Born Thaabe Letsie, Ntate Stunna first rose to prominence through his ability to blend modern hip-hop with traditional Sesotho musical influences, producing a sound that has resonated with audiences in both Lesotho and South Africa.
His breakthrough album, Sesotho Fashioneng, established him as one of the country’s most influential contemporary artists before he reached even wider audiences through cross-border collaborations and chart-topping singles.
His biggest breakthrough came with Stimela, a collaboration that became a regional hit and introduced his music to millions of listeners across Southern Africa. The song went on to achieve significant commercial success and earned recognition at the South African Music Awards, helping position Ntate Stunna among a new generation of artists successfully taking Lesotho’s music onto bigger regional stages.
Today, the artist attracts more than 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with songs such as Stimela, Chelete and Ke Thata collectively recording tens of millions of streams across digital platforms. Industry data also identifies South Africa as his largest audience, underlining the growing popularity of his music outside his home country.
The Ngwathe Spring Experience Music Festival has positioned itself as one of the Free State’s flagship lifestyle, tourism and entertainment events, combining live music with tourism and community experiences. Organisers have indicated that more artists will be announced ahead of the festival, with early bird ticket sales having already closed.
To Stunna, the latest booking reinforces a career trajectory that has seen him become one of Lesotho’s most recognisable cultural ambassadors. His continued inclusion at major South African festivals reflects not only his growing fan base but also the increasing acceptance of Sesotho-language music on mainstream regional platforms.
Summary
- Festival organisers have confirmed the award-winning artist as the seventh act on the line-up for the event, which will take place on 26 September at the Fezile Dabi Stadium in Tumahole, Parys.
- The booking is the latest indication that the Lesotho-born artist is steadily expanding his footprint in South Africa, where his music has enjoyed growing commercial success over the past few years.
- The song went on to achieve significant commercial success and earned recognition at the South African Music Awards, helping position Ntate Stunna among a new generation of artists successfully taking Lesotho’s music onto bigger regional stages.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
