Press Release: Shoko Festival Announces Innovative New Format for 2020 Edition
Zimbabwe’s longest-running urban culture festival - Shoko Festival has announced that its 10th edition running from the 21st to 27th September 2020 will feature some of its most innovative and unique programming to date. This year’s edition, dubbed “The Phoenix Edition” will feature a completely digital implementation with live sets streamed from both Harare and Bulawayo for all 7 days.
Shoko 2020 will feature performances from popular urban acts including Poptain, Jah Master, Ray Vines, Natasha Muz, Anita Jaxson, Pro Beatz, and many more local acts. The festival will also release the name of its surprise international act soon.
This year’s edition of Shoko Festival will see a mixture of new and old formats as we optimise the experience for the streaming audience on Facebook and other online platforms. Digital attendees can expect amazing live performances, Peace In The Hood, Mash Ups Night, The Bang Bang Comedy Show, a Digital Poetry Slam, a Top Comedian Battle, #DigitalMediaWeek hosted by The Hub Unconference, a #ZimbabweanLivesMatter cypher and the Voice2Rep competition amongst many other scheduled presentations.
“As Shoko Festival we’re all about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and what can be performed. Because of Covid-19 we’ve had to pivot our programming and its challenged us to come up with a brand new virtual programme of cutting edge curated events, brand new musical collaborations, daring comedy game shows and an inspiring digital conference too!”
says Shoko Festival Director Comrade Fatso,
Shoko Festival will continue to provide a platform for upcoming artists in different urban culture genres, and also collaborate with more established acts from different genres via our Peace in The Hood event and Mash Ups Night. In true Shoko tradition, the festival will be presenting never-seen-before collaborations including man-of-the-moment Poptain featuring rapper BlacPerl & seasoned poet Madzitateguru. Another explosive collaboration the festival has curated will see popular new singer Anita Jaxson joining forces with rising rappers Natasha Muz and Sibo.
“We are proud that even in these trying times Shoko Festival is able to be one of the few cultural platforms where upcoming and talented poets can perform alongside the biggest acts in the country, and, the same festival can also host some of the best comedians and rappers while also running a cutting edge week-long conference that covers the state of the internet and engages our political leaders on critical issues“
says Shoko Production Manager, Tongai Makawa AKA Outspoken.
Shoko’s main sponsors this year are the Prince Claus Fund, Norwegian People’s Aid, Accountability Lab & the Heinrich Boll Foundation. More information about this year’s edition of Shoko Festival can be found on their website
For any press queries please contact:
Phil Chard
phil@pointblack.africa
+263772419739
Kim Kute
shoko@shokofestival.co.zw
+263 77 237 7955
About Shoko Festival
Shoko Festival is Zimbabwe’s most popular and longest-running urban culture festival. Shoko is all about promoting urban culture, free expression and new ideas. Over the years the festival has provided a platform for hundreds of young Zimbabwean rappers, comedians, musicians and spoken word artists to perform, collaborate and express themselves. Shoko also curates cutting edge collaborations between local and international acts and builds international tours for young Zimbabwean artists. The festival hosts free conferences, workshops and panels on music, tech & digital. The Shoko 2020 edition will run under the theme “The Phoenix Edition”. The festival, which is entering its 10th edition, will deliver an incredible and unique iteration during these socially distanced times. Shoko 2020 will feature A week-long Hub Unconference #DigitalMediaWeek, Shoko Comedy Night, Peace in the Hood concert, Digital Poetry Slams, Mash Up Night, Top Comedian Battle, Voice 2 Rep Competition, #ZimbabweanLivesMatter Cipher, and, some of the most innovative live performances of Lockdown! Shoko Festival is Zimbabwe’s longest-running festival of urban culture and is a production of Magamba Network.