Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari-Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Legendary music producer Take Fizzo formerly Take 5 will headline the Mash Up Nights event for the Shoko Festival this year.
Running under”The Legacy XV,” the organisers said the year’s Mash Up Nights will highlight Shoko’s continued commitment to creative collaboration and cultural unity, as the festival celebrates 15 years of cutting-edge urban art, music, and youth culture.
The Mash Up Nights is set to take place at Harare Gardens on September 26th.
Shoko Festival Coordinator, Vera Chisvo said: “Take Fizzo represents an era that laid the foundations for Zimbabwe’s modern music industry.
“His performance is the perfect way to mark 15 years of Shoko’s dedication to promoting urban culture and hip-hop. This is a true celebration of the journey we have all taken together.”
Renowned for his ground breaking influence in shaping Zimbabwe’s modern music industry, Take Fizzo is set to take festival-goers down memory lane with an electrifying showcase of his greatest hits and iconic productions.
From his early work redefining urban soundscapes to his extensive catalogue of genre-defining tracks, Take Fizzo embodies the transformation of Zimbabwe’s music scene into a contemporary powerhouse.
“This year’s Mash Up Nights promises to be an unforgettable celebration of Zimbabwe’s vibrant urban culture and hip-hop legacy, with legendary producer Take Fizzo headlining the event.”
Joining Fizzo are urban grooves pioneers Mafriq and Trinity whose classic hits helped shape the genre’s foundation in Zimbabwe and ushered in a new era of contemporary urban music.
Mafriq and Trinity are pioneering urban grooves, major players who created some of the country’s most iconic musical moments and established the foundational sound that defines Zimbabwean urban music today.
Back by popular demand, the Mashoko Tapes music residency also returns for its second edition.
The programme, which is known for its genre-bending collaborations will see participating artists co-create an original album during their time together echoing the festival’s creative heartbeat.
Following the triumphant inaugural edition that featured Ray Kaz, Bhekiwe, Shebeen Boys (Dingo and Dough Major), Lala Martins and rising Afro Fusion songbird, Rutendo Jackie.
This year’s Mashoko Tapes lineup showcases an exceptional blend of established and emerging talent, featuring Segulm − visionary behind the Afro-fusion hit First of Season, Briza Bulawayo’s rising hip-hop star with a fierce flow and storytelling prowess, Paintafresco a 2024 Zim Hip-Hop Awards nominee and multi-disciplinary artist, Yadis Harare’s breakthrough female rapper, known for her “Ndakusasa Mixtape” and Enhle a soulful RnB neo-soul artist carving her own space in the scene.
This groundbreaking music residency program brings together the festival’s Mash Up Nights performers in a collaborative environment to produce an original album, fostering artistic growth and cross-genre experimentation.
This year’s residency promises to deliver another collection of innovative tracks that capture the essence of Zimbabwe’s rapidly evolving urban music landscape.
