Shoko Festival unveils first wave of acts for 2023 edition

Zimbabwe’s premier festival of urban culture, Shoko Festival, has announced the first wave of acts for its 13th edition, which will run from September 28 to 30 in Harare and online. The festival, which has the theme ‘The Take Back’, aims to showcase the best of urban culture, with music, comedy, poetry and activism.

The festival will feature a diverse line-up of local and regional artists, such as Botswana’s Jordan Moozy, rap star Bling4, Gemma Griffiths, Nasibo, Mycole Biller, Bagga and MJ Sings. Other artists that have been confirmed are Hwinza Menternah, DJ Tashman, Leon Mwana waJoze, DJ Rori, Amard, Afrikera Dance Trust, among others.

The festival will also host various events such as the Peace in the Hood concert in Chitungwiza, the Mash Up Night, the Poetry Night, the Hub Unconference and the Comedy Night or Roast. Last year, the comedy roast was a hit as former member of Parliament of Norton Temba Mliswa was roasted by a panel made up of Vimbai Zimuto, Lucky Aaron, Carl Joshua Ncube, Prophet Madungwe, Ckhanyiso dat Guy and Kiky Badass.

Shoko Festival was founded by Magamba Network in 2011 as a platform to celebrate and promote free expression and politically conscious art. It has hosted international acts such as Akala, Freshlyground, Cassper Nyovest and Loyiso Gola over the years.

This year’s edition will be posted on Shoko Festival’s socials so as to capture thousands of online viewers as well as a limited number of physical attendees who would have failed to attend because of various reasons.