Harare’s unofficial, official cool-kid HQ; restro-bar Mara Mara plays host to the Skeyi & Strobo Fabrik Party event titled ‘A Day in December‘ today. According to the Director, Ulenni Okandlovu, A Day in December is an in-person highlight reel of all the good stuff that happened this past year. The curated event will feature designers, artists, musicians, and photographers who have worked with SS Fabrik Party for activations in 2025.
”A huge number of Zimbabweans come back in December & another big number of locals are tied up with work throughout the year & they miss out on a lot of “artsy” events that happen. People are only left with clubs & parties to go to. Creatives have fewer spaces to hang out at. In December, most culture hubs and spaces are closed, and there is nowhere to see art, buy art. There are less or completely no alternatives,” -Ulenni Okandlovu
December in Harare is usually loud, occasionally fun, and definitely crowded, but culturally, options can get thin fast. You’re done with the restaurant circuit in a week, concerts are packed, and everything starts to blur.
”We just want to bring something that bridges that gap at the peak of the festive season by giving the city an alternative experience coming from the subculture music, fashion & space.” -Ulenni
The Skeyi & Strobo Fabrik Party has turned into something of a phenomenon. Five years in, it’s become a solid alternative cultural playground for fashion, sound, and self-expression. Step into their world, and you’re surrounded by a wild mash-up of cosplay, upcycled denim skater-boi edginess, meets the crochet flower child chic with a heavy dose of Afro-futuristic accessories. Since their inception in 2020, they have built a community that treats style like a language and their bodies as a canvas. Very tongue-in-cheek. Very intentional. Very “if you get it, you get it.”
And the ripple effect has been real. Aspiring models get their first runway moment here. DJs in training get real crowds. Musicians get space to test, to grow, to be seen. At its core, SS Fabrik Party is proof that alternative spaces aren’t a niche luxury. They’re essential spaces for exploration and growth. They give community to people who don’t always see themselves reflected in mainstream culture.
This is evidenced by the regional appeal of the SS Fabrik Party, which has activations planned for 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia, Eswatini, Windhoek, Namibia and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
