Online Reporter
Langalihle Mhiti-Zimpapers Entertainment Hub
SHOKO Festival has officially kicked off its 16th edition in the Harare Gardens, filling the space with sound, laughter, creativity, and open conversations.
Returning for four days from September 23 -26, the annual celebration is running under the banner “UNMUTED,” a theme that speaks directly to the kind of culture Zimbabweans are being asked to make and speak—without holding back.
From the moment the festival began, it was clear this year’s Shoko is not only about who takes the stage, but also about who gets to be heard. Organisers describe the edition as a gathering of people who are “questioning, creating, challenging, and shaping what comes next.”
And in that spirit, the festival is creating room for voices across music, comedy, art, digital spaces, and dialogue.
On the opening day’s momentum, yesterday’s line-up featured standout performances from artists including Neville Bird, DJ TvnDv, Magi, Chispi, and Nigel the Slick Pastor—a mix that set the tone for a festival meant to move with the energy of contemporary creative culture.
As the Harare Gardens programme continues, today’s stage promises an even wider blend of talent, with performances from Mugaratia, Saintfloew, Easy Ice, Bhila, One DA (UK), Milk Million, Super Muno, Hooksmith, MadeHerBelieve, Xiba, Luigi Badgenna, Volt JT, and Tinashe Fortune.
Festival-goers are expected to enjoy not just one kind of sound, but many—reflecting Shoko’s belief that creative expression comes in different forms and styles.
But Shoko is more than performances scheduled in time slots. Part of what “UNMUTED” brings to life is the festival’s wider programming, including events such as Mash Up Night, Comedy Night, Hub Unconference, Green Cities, and Peace in the Hood.
These spaces invite audiences to do more than watch—they encourage them to interact, listen, and engage with the ideas being presented around community, creativity, and modern life.
Just as important, this year’s edition is also giving emerging artists a chance to share the stage with more established names, creating opportunities for collaboration and discovery. In a relaxed festival setting, audiences can move between music, comedy, visual creativity, and conversations—making Shoko feel like both a party and a cultural forum.
When the Harare leg ends, the festival will shift to Chitungwiza on Saturday, September 26, carrying the “UNMUTED” theme into a new space.
The Chitungwiza programme includes Yadis, Young Gemini, Sane Wave, Tanto Wave, Scrip Mula, Mazy Boy, MC Tatts, Kayflow, Jung Fanto, Feld Jut, and DJ RSK**.
For many who have already arrived, the significance of Shoko 2026 is simple: it’s a platform for creatives to show what they can do—and for audiences to witness how Zimbabwe’s culture is evolving in real time.
As performances continue in Harare before the move to Chitungwiza, one thing is already clear—this year, the festival is making sure creative voices are not just heard, but celebrated.
