Zimbabwe’s longest-running urban culture festival, Shoko Festival, has unveiled the headline acts for its highly anticipated 14th Edition which will run from the 26th to the 28th of September 2024 in Harare & Chitungwiza. This year’s first round announcement of headline acts includes Nadia Nakai, Master H and Tamy Moyo.
Festival goers are in for a treat with South African based award-winning hip-hop queen, Nadia Nakai, set to grace the Shoko festival stage and she is promising an exciting homecoming performance. Nadia Nakai has not only grown to be a household name on the South African Hip Hop scene but she has made a name for herself across the continent.
Music fans can also look forward to electrifying performances from Zimdancehall’s newest star, Master H, who is currently topping music charts and trending online with his anthems like Dhanzi and Habakkuk, along with a slew of impressive features.
Afro pop sensation Tamy Moyo will also dazzle festival goers with her strong catalogue of hit songs which include her latest single titled Kelly Kelvedhura which features Master H and is leaning towards a million views online in a space of 3 months. This will be the singer’s second appearance at Shoko Festival, having performed at the 2016 edition with other music giants like Jah Prayzah, AKA, Winky D and Amara Brown.
This year’s festival theme #BothSidesOfSamora shines a light on the road that has historically separated different social classes. Different arts genres and cultures have often been divided by Samora Machel Avenue. Shoko 2024 will be happening on both sides of Samora and will be building a unique platform that showcases the bubbling urban culture from uptown to downtown, and from the suburbs to the hood.
The theme #BothSidesOfSamora pays homage to the young cultural pioneers shaping Zimbabwe’s future and turning dreams into reality through their daily acts of creative resistance.
Shoko Festival Coordinator, Vera Chisvo, says this year’s all star line up seeks to celebrate diversity:
This year we are so amped to celebrate the diverse backgrounds of young people who are joined together through the love of music and performing arts. Our star studded line up is a true reflection of that and we will be announcing more acts in due course.
The festival promises to bring together a diverse array of hip hop, dancehall, stand up comedy and spoken word through its various events over three days including Mashup Night, Shoko Comedy Night, both in Harare, and the main event, the Peace in the Hood Concert in Chitungwiza.
Shoko also offers an inspiring programme of talks and bootcamps on digital media, tech and the creative economy at its Hub Unconference event which will happen in the lead up to Shoko on the 24th to the 25th of September at Moto Republik.
Over the years, Shoko has hosted a powerful line up of African urban culture pioneers like Casper Nyovest, HHP, AKA, Tehn Diamond, Tumi Morake, Kikky Badass and Winky D.
Shoko Festival is a celebration of free expression, cutting-edge urban art, and alternative youth culture. It is a project of Magamba Network, Africa’s trailblazing creative and digital media organisation.
