Mixed bag lined up for Shoko Festival

Problem Masau Arts Correspondent
A mixed bag of entertainment is lined up at this year’s edition of Shoko Festival with live concerts, comedy nights, DJ parties, poetry slam, workshops, debates, graffiti and exhibitions during the six-day fête.
Preparations are already on course with over 250 artistes from three continents expected to take part in the festival running from September 17 to 22 at WaterWhirld in Harare.

Some of the artistes who are expected to grace the festival include South African rapper Khuli Chana. The Sama and Channel O award-winning artiste is one of South Africa’s most sought-after musicians. Jamaican reggae superstar Tony Rebel is one of the big names that are expected to grace the festival. The reggae star’s performance will be at WaterWhirld on September 20.

South African comedians Tumi Morake and Kagiso Lediga are set to share the stage with Zimbabwean comedian Carl Joshua Ncube on September 18 in a show dubbed “Comedy Night”.

Director of the festival Sam Monroe said this year’s theme “We the People” is highlighting how the festival has grown to involve many different genres and an inspiringly diverse Zimbabwean and international audience.

“We The People symbolises how Shoko becomes a powerful display of unity and togetherness of the capital city’s many people – artistes, activists, dreamers, developers and media activists.

“It shows how despite the many challenges that the city and country have gone through, the festival can bring people together in an inspiring space of culture, new media and positive activism moving the city and country forward,” he said.

The inaugural three-day Shoko Festival took place in September 2011. Shoko 2012 expanded upon the previous year’s programming and lasted six days in order to include more comprehensive programming.

The first two festivals brought in leading international acts such as Natty (UK), Tumi & the Volume (SA), Andi Teichmann (Germany), Akala (UK), Mic Crenshaw (US), Nomsa Mazwai (SA) and Andreattah Chuma (Botswana) while also showcasing Zimbabwe’s finest artistes such as the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Tehn Diamond, Hope Masike, Synik, Carl Joshua Ncube, Mannex, The Monkey Nuts and many more.
Shoko Festival is an initiative of Magamba Network, one of the country’s most active urban culture organisations pushing consciousness among young people, new media and youth culture.