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Mthabisi Tshuma, Showbiz Correspondent
PREPARATIONS for the 11th edition of the Shoko Festival, set to be held virtually from September 20 to 25, are at an advanced stage.

Shoko Festival, one of Zimbabwe’s longest-running urban culture festival’s will be running under the theme “Shoko Universe”.

Festival director Samm Farai Monro aka Comrade Fatso said after successfully hosting the event virtually last year, they will be bringing their A-game this year.

“As an answer to the times we are living in, this year we’ll invite the audience to dive into the completely virtual Shoko Universe. We’ll take them on a riveting journey riding on our collective imaginations through gritty urban culture, explosive music, crazy sets, never-seen-before collaborations and a celebration of the impossible,” said Comrade Fatso.

Shoko Festival coordinator Kim Kute said as per their mantra, they are going to roll out acts from different corners of the country as their aim is to give up-and-coming artistes in different genres an opportunity to perform.

“As Shoko Festival, we pride ourselves with being a dynamic space for freedom of expression, urban culture and positive social change. We continue to challenge ourselves in terms of how we’ll deliver the festival and we promise to surprise and inspire the audience. So, we invite the audience to come and enter the Shoko Universe. Let’s begin the journey,” said Kute.

Kute said the festival is all about promoting urban culture, free expression and new ideas.

“The festival has over the years, 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 will also hold conferences, workshops and panels on music and technology.

In the past, Shoko Festival has featured top international acts like Cassper Nyovest, AKA and Tony Rebel, leading local artistes like the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Winky D and Holy Ten as well as giving a platform to break out urban Zimbabwean acts like Awa Khiwe and The Monkey Nuts. -@mthabisi_mthire