Runna Rulez has dropped his 13-track ZimHipHop album Skunyu (The Conquering Son) in Harare this week, just days before Shoko Festival’s milestone 15th edition, where he is set to join a stacked line-up of local and international acts across Harare and Chitungwiza from September 25 to 27.

The album, released on September 11, introduces Runna Rulez as a serious contender on Zimbabwe’s urban music scene. With collaborations from Young Gemini, Bagga, Madedido, Kelton Joe, King Alpha Kadiki, Thirstyfrik and Hoodkid, Skunyu blends defiant street anthems and introspective narratives. Tracks such as “GOGOGOi,” “Limited Edition,” and the title track “Skunyu” showcase his ambition to conquer new musical heights. Fans will now wait to see how the energy translates to the live stage at Shoko.

Shoko Festival 2025, themed Legacy XV, will mark fifteen years of Zimbabwe’s longest-running urban culture festival. The programme kicks off on September 25 with Comedy Night at Harare Gardens, headlined by King Kandoro, one of Zimbabwe’s sharpest comics, alongside Kenyan comedian Justine Wanda. The line-up also features Munya, Mike Chipere, Mbongeni Ignatius Ndlovu, and DJ Iroq between sets, promising an electric start to the weekend.

On September 26, the festival’s signature Mash Up Night will feature South Africa’s Reason AKA Sizwe Alakine, UK rapper-poet OneDa, and Zimbabwean talents including Yadis and Enhle, with cross-genre energy expected from other performers like Sane Wav and Take Fizzo. The event highlights Shoko’s tradition of blending international artistry with homegrown innovation.

The closing day, September 27, shifts to Chitungwiza for Peace In The Hood at the Unit L Community Hall Grounds. This free community concert, starting from 10:30am, will showcase grassroots talent and big local names: Bagga, Dadza Dee, Runna Rulez, Madedido, and Jnr Spragga among others. Peace In The Hood has become a defining Shoko tradition, taking the festival beyond the city centre and into the heart of the townships.

The release of Skunyu days ahead of Shoko strategically positions Runna Rulez within the festival’s spotlight. With fresh material and collaborative firepower, his performances in Harare and Chitungwiza could elevate his profile from promising rapper to a defining voice of Zimbabwe’s new-wave hip-hop.

As Shoko Festival celebrates fifteen years of music, comedy, and cultural exchange, Skunyu (The Conquering Son) arrives as both a personal statement and a cultural moment—one that ties the story of an emerging artist to the legacy of Zimbabwe’s premier urban culture platform.