Zimbabwe’s flagship urban culture event, Shoko Festival, is set to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary this September with a programme that blends music, comedy, digital innovation and climate activism.
Running from September 24 to 27, 2025, in Harare and Chitungwiza, the festival will mark the milestone under the theme “XV: The Legacy”. In a statement posted on LinkedIn, organisers Magamba Network said:
“We are celebrating a decade and a half of artistic innovation, creative freedom and the evolution of urban culture in Zimbabwe and beyond.”
Founded in 2010, Shoko has become a launchpad for artists, activists and young entrepreneurs working at the intersection of culture and technology. Over the years it has hosted pioneering African voices in hip hop, comedy and digital media, while also creating space for social commentary and civic engagement.
This year’s programme opens with the Hub Unconference (24–25 September), which will convene thought leaders, creatives and youth under the theme “Decolonize the Internet”. The sessions aim to challenge colonial legacies embedded in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence while advancing African narratives in the global tech space.
On 26 September, attention shifts to the Green Cities Expo, themed “Reclaim Our Future”, which will bring together communities, artists and entrepreneurs to explore grassroots solutions for building greener and more equitable African cities.
The cultural highlights are equally bold.
- Shoko Comedy Night (25 September) will be headlined by Zimbabwe’s King Kandoro alongside Kenyan satirist Justine Wanda.
- Mash Up Night (26 September) features South African rapper Reason, UK breakthrough artist OneDa, Zimbabwean hip hop act Sane Wav and veteran producer Take Fizzo.
- Peace In The Hood (27 September), a community-focused concert, will showcase Bagga, Young Fantan, 2024 Best Newcomer Runna Rulez, rising dancehall voice Madedido and chart-topper Jnr Spragga.
International partners are also recognising Shoko’s legacy. Ruth Daniel, the Icelandic multi-award-winning CEO and Artistic Director of global NGO In Place of War and founder of EarthSonic, will return to Zimbabwe for the festival.
“My comrades at Magamba Network do the most incredible and important work, using creativity to make positive change in Zimbabwe and across Africa,” she said. “Every year, there is a festival called Peace in the Hood, in the Chi-Town community. It’s a 15,000 people gathering, right in the heart of the community, which is one of the most spectacular festivals I’ve ever been to.”
This year, Ruth travels with Glastonbury Festival’s Arcadia Spectacular Ltd to collaborate on a new initiative called Build the Peace. The project aims to bring Arcadia’s technical expertise to Chitungwiza, co-creating new cultural infrastructure with local communities. Daniel will also bring Manchester’s rap and drum and bass artist OneDa, who will collaborate with Zimbabwean musicians at the festival.
Shoko’s longevity reflects more than just entertainment. Its programming increasingly addresses issues at the heart of Africa’s creative economy, digital rights, sustainability and youth participation. In doing so, the festival positions itself as both a cultural celebration and an incubator for African creative entrepreneurship.
As Magamba Network noted:
“Through music, art, creative climate activism and digital culture, Shoko 2025 continues to inspire a new generation to enjoy, learn, thrive and celebrate 15 years of thumping urban culture.”
For many in Zimbabwe’s growing creative sector, Shoko’s legacy lies in proving that festivals can be more than spectacles: they can be catalysts for innovation, platforms for advocacy and springboards for the continent’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
