By Marshall Bwanya
HARARE — Hip-hop sensation Saintfloew will make his Shoko Festival debut alongside returning star Voltz JT and rising rapper Mugaratia when Mash Up Night takes over Harare Gardens on September 25.
Zimbabwe’s longest-running urban culture festival announced the line-up this week, promising a night that brings together established names, emerging voices and some of the country’s most interesting urban sounds.
Saintfloew arrives at Shoko riding the momentum of hits including Uchazondida and Gucci N Dior, with organisers billing his first appearance at the festival as one of the major attractions of this year’s Mash Up Night.
“I can’t wait to tear up the Shoko stage.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment!”
“This is going to be a really unique performance so don’t miss it,” Saintfloew said.
Voltz JT, meanwhile, returns to a festival where his socially conscious approach and sharp lyrical commentary have made him a natural fit for Shoko’s alternative urban culture audience.
“I’m so excited to be performing at the Shoko Festival Mash Up night.
“Last time I was there it was amazing!
“I hope you bring the same energy. Let’s celebrate culture and music together on the 25th of September,” Voltz JT said.
Mugaratia is also returning after performing at the 2024 edition’s Peace In The Hood event in Chitungwiza.
His appearance this year is expected to showcase how far the rapper has come since that outing.
Adding fresh energy to the bill are Shoko debutant Xiba and Bulawayo-based artist Bhila, whose Afro-soul and Mbaqanga influences offer a change of texture from the predominantly hip-hop line-up.
What could make the night particularly different, however, is the decision to have all the performers backed by a full live band.
For Shoko curator Dennis Shoko, that combination is deliberate rather than simply another festival line-up.
“When putting together the Mash Up Nights lineup, the idea was really to celebrate ZimHipHop in all its different forms,” he said.
“These are artists who have shaped the culture, artists who are carrying it forward, and audiences who have grown up alongside the music,” he said.
Dennis added: “This is a safe and mature environment to watch ZimHipHop acts. Come through!”
Mashoko Tapes will return for its third edition, bringing another collaborative dimension to the event.
The music residency brings Mash Up Night performers together to create an original album, with Supermuno, Millz Million, Easy Ice, Luigi Badgenna and Hooksmith joining Bhila on Mashoko Tapes Volume 3.
The project is scheduled for release ahead of the festival and will give audiences a taste of the collaborations brewing behind the scenes.
DJ MadeHerBelieve will close out the announced line-up, taking charge of the decks as the festival looks to keep the energy going beyond the live performances.
Now in its 16th edition, Shoko has built its identity around alternative youth culture, free expression and Zimbabwe’s constantly evolving urban music scene.
Organised by Magamba Network, the festival has also become a launchpad for artists who do not always fit neatly into mainstream music spaces.
Early-bird tickets for Mash Up Night cost US$10, rising to US$15 at the gate.
Tickets are available online through Shoko Festival, as well as at Elixir Liquor Stores nationwide and Moto Republik on Allan Wilson Avenue in Harare.
