Let’s be real for a second—when was the last time you saw a local event that genuinely catered to the grown and sexy crowd? You know, the ones who’ve outgrown the chaotic, sweaty, arms-flailing, bass-thumping Ama-piano parties. (There is a preferred time and place for these, Amen!)
Enter SoulScape 2025, a new quarterly lifestyle festival set to debut on 1 March 2025 at The ARTFARM in Harare. And honestly? It’s about time.
Manana, the Grammy Award-winning artist, is headlining, and if you’ve ever listened to his music, you know this man doesn’t just perform—he transcends. His soulful, genre-defying sound is the kind of thing that makes you want to sip a glass of wine, close your eyes, and just feel. Then there’s Plaxedes Wenyika, and Bryan K—artists who’ve been in the game long enough to know how to serenade a crowd without relying on gimmicks. Just good music.
It’s also really encouraging to see a lineup that’s solidly stacked with recording and performing artists who vocally sound incredible. Zimbabwean R&B, soul, and urban music have been stuck in this weird limbo for years. After the early 2000s, Urban Grooves kind of took a nap, and since then, it’s felt like our music scene has been split into two extremes: either it’s Afro-jazz for the super mature crowd or it’s amapiano for the young and restless.The Zim Dancehall for EVERYONE! And while we love a good South African amapiano hit, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen local R&B and soul music get the spotlight they deserve.
That’s why seeing names like Kae Chaps, Bryan K, and Plaxedes Wenyika on this lineup feels like a breath of fresh air. These are artists who’ve been holding it down for the R&B babies, the ones who’ve been quietly keeping the soulful sounds alive while the rest of the world moved on to the next trend. Plaxedes, especially, feels like a throwback to a past lifetime, and seeing her name on the bill is a reminder of just how much talent we have in this country.
This isn’t just another festival. It feels like a statement. A statement that says, “Hey, adult-adults exist too, and we also want to have fun.” Because let’s face it—most events these days are geared toward the younger, more energetic crowd. And that’s fine! They deserve their fun. But for those of us who are past the stage of grinding all night and just want to enjoy good music, good food, and good company in a chill environment, options are few and far between. There’s nothing too wrong about the ole grind-up but for the love of everything good please can a teenager not step onto my shoes or puke within earshot.
Now, don’t get us wrong. We’re not here to bash the younger crowd or the events that cater to them. Amapiano is life, and we’ll never turn down a good ratchet party (once a year). But sometimes, you just want to enjoy music that speaks to your soul, not just your feet. And that’s where SoulScape comes in. It’s a reminder that there’s more to Zimbabwe’s music scene than what’s trending next door on TikTok.
That said, we’re cautiously optimistic. The idea is great, the lineup is solid, and the venue is perfect. Will it truly be the grown-up night out we’ve been craving? We sure hope so!
Tickets are already available at Wakazi Fitness Studio in the Avenues and online at bestofzim.com.
SoulScape 2025, we’re watching you. Don’t let us grown and sexys down!
