It is said that charity begins at home, and this is what the organisers of Shoko Festival has done in support of local artists who have played a huge part for the enjoyment of Zimbabweans over the years.
Shoko Festival, the longest running urban culture festival in Zimbabwe celebrated its 12th anniversary in style with an array of local artists who made it a point that local artists can hold it down more than international artists at music/arts shows.
The Festival has been headlined by international artists over the years (before COVID-19) with local artists as supporting acts and this year the organisers deliberately went for local artists only.
Speaking to The Standard Style, Shoko Festival Director Sam “Comrade Fatso” Munroe said that they deliberately headlined local artists only this year.
“We have done this on purpose, we have artists around the region but our headline artists are locals,” he said.
“We are giving back to what we got from them. These are the people who kept us going during Covid-19 and we appreciate that.
“We decided not to bring in a Nigerian or a South African artist, we want to celebrate the Zimbabwean artists who held it down during COVID-19.”
Shoko Festival, which ran from Tuesday till last night at venues across Harare and Chitungwiza, was running under the theme PARTYcipate, a call for young people to participate in social and political issues that shape their future.
The festival was headlined by the Peace in the Hood show in Chitungwiza yesterday, where Zimdancehall sensation Freeman, Kikky Badass, Tanto Wavie, Natasha Muz, DJ King Her, Abisha Palmer among others gave thrilling performances to the thousands of fans who graced the event.
On Friday night patrons were entertained by the Roast of Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa in a fully packed Reps Theatre.
The Women Cypher on Wednesday night was amazing, the women brought their A-game to the show while Thursday night fans were kept on their feet at the MASH-UP night with Hip Hop artist Luminous showing that he is one of the best live performers in the country.
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