AKA headlines Shoko Festival 2016

Lazarus Sauti

INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed South African hip-hop artist Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, known by his stage name AKA, is set to headline this year’s edition of Shoko Festival from the 23 to 25 in Harare and Chitungwiza.

On September 23 and 24, the festival will take place at the Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences grounds on Rotten Row in the Central Business District of Harare and the last day of the festival, the Peace in the Hood concert will be held in Chitungwiza.

Festival coordinator Natalie Kombe says AKA – undoubtedly the king of African hip-hop at the moment – is going to be the main headlining act of the country’s biggest fiesta of urban culture, alongside Zimbabwean artists Winky D and Ammara Brown.

“The 6th edition of Zimbabwe’s biggest celebration of urban culture will be home to some of the hottest entertainers locally, regionally and internationally,” she says.

She added: “Under the theme ‘Come Alive’, the main headlining acts for the opening Friday night 23 of September, are internationally acclaimed South African hip-hop artist AKA and one of Zimbabwe’s most beloved artist Winky D.

“AKA is currently heating up the charts with his singles ‘Dreamwork’ and ‘One Time’, which debuted at #1 on iTunes and continues to take over the charts in Africa and the United Kingdom.”

Kombe also says Wink D’s electric performance at the event is in partnership with Zambezi Magic and DSTV, and adds that sensational Zimbabwean songstress Ammara Brown will feature on the 24 of September.

Saturday night, 24 September, at Shoko will be featuring none other than the sensational Zimbabwean songstress Ammara Brown.

“With her hit song ‘Mukoko’and her vibrant dance moves, her performance is sure to be a crowd thriller,” she says.

Making their debut performances in Zimbabwe, notes Kombe, and hailing all the way from Norway are two acts – African Sunz and Mooyah. 

“The African Sunz duo, both born in Africa, has created a culturally blended mix of contagious music,” she says. “African Sunz has earned reputation as one of Oslo’s best live hip-hop bands.”

Festival director Comrade Fatso says the fiesta’s theme ‘Come Alive’ speaks to the frenetic energy that is urban living, youth culture as well as the continual evolution of technology.

“Shoko is a space where the crowd can plug in and ‘Come Alive’ through the electrically charged performances, the innovative discussions and the inspired atmosphere of festival life.

“This year’s edition is all about being present in the moment and truly living and enjoying the experience,” he says, urging Zimbabweans to come together, get inspired as well as enthralled by an amazing festival experience that brings Zimbabweans and citizens from other regional countries together.

“We are calling on Zimbabweans and other part goers from countries within and across southern Africa to come alive amidst the challenging times we are living in.

“It is a call for Zimbabweans and other citizens from Africa as well as the world to wake up, to live and to celebrate our great country,” he adds.

Produced by Magamba Network, Zimbabwe’s pioneering creative organisation, Shoko Festival, is continuing its collaboration with its programming partners: Unplugged Zimbabwe, Book CafĂ©, Jibilika, Simuka Comedy, Rap City, Let Them Trust Schools Festival and Two Broke Twimbos.


Significantly, the Embassy of Sweden and Norwegian People’s Aid are the festival’s main partners this year.

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