Nadia Nakai to light up Shoko Festival
Award-winning South African hip-hop queen Nadia Nakai, along with Zimbabwe’s rising Zimdancehall star Master H and Afro-pop fusion sensation Tamy Moyo, are set to headline the highly anticipated 14th edition of Shoko Festival.
The festival, known as Zimbabwe’s longest-running celebration of urban culture, will take place from September 26th to 28th, 2024, in Harare and Chitungwiza.
Festival-goers are in for a treat with award-winning hip-hop queen Nadia Nakai, who is set to deliver an electrifying homecoming performance.
A household name in South Africa’s hip-hop scene, Nakai’s presence at Shoko Festival is highly anticipated. Alongside her, Zimdancehall’s rising star, Master H, will bring his chart-topping anthems like “Dhanzi” to the stage, ensuring an unforgettable performance.
Afro-pop fusion sensation Tamy Moyo will also dazzle the audience with her strong catalogue of hits, including her latest single “Kelly Kelvedhura,” which features Master H and is nearing a million views online in just three months. This marks Tamy’s second appearance at Shoko Festival, having previously performed in 2016 with other music giants like Jah Prayzah, AKA, Winky D, and Amara Brown.
This year’s festival theme, #BothSidesOfSamora, shines a light on the historical divide created by Samora Machel Avenue, separating different social classes. Shoko 2024 will bridge this gap by showcasing urban culture from both uptown and downtown, the suburbs, and the hood. The theme pays homage to young cultural pioneers shaping Zimbabwe’s future through creative resistance.
Shoko Festival Coordinator, Vera Chisvo, said: “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 lineup is a true reflection of that, and we will be announcing more acts in due course.”
The festival promises a diverse array of hip hop, dancehall, stand-up comedy, and spoken word events over three days, including Mashup Night, Shoko Comedy Night in Harare, and the main event, the Peace in the Hood Concert in Chitungwiza.
Shoko also offers an inspiring program of talks and boot camps on digital media, tech, and the creative economy at its Hub Unconference event, happening on September 24th and 25th at Moto Republik.
Over the years, Shoko has hosted a powerful lineup 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, and is a project of Magamba Network, Africa’s trailblasing creative and digital media organisation.