Long John Set For Homecoming Show at Shoko Festival 2024

HARARE:Shoko Festival, Zimbabwe’s longest-running urban culture festival, is excited to announce its second round of headliners for its highly anticipated 14th Edition, which will take place from September 26th to 28th, 2024, in Harare and Chitungwiza, Headline acts include US-based comedian Learnmore Jonasi and popular rappers Voltz JT, Young Gemini and Kayflow.

Shoko Comedy Night on 26 September at Harare Gardens will be a huge night for Zimbabwean stand-up comedy with the homecoming show of Zimbabwe’s award-winning comedian Leammore Jonasi who will be flying in from Pittsburgh, USA.

His exclusive appearance at Shoko
Comedy Night is the first on home soil after his viral appearance on America’s Got Talent, where he wowed the judges and walked away with a Golden buzzer from American TV Host and actor, Terry Crews. America’s Got Talent is a talent show with four judges with two golden buzzers each to give away and the show host has one Golden Buzzer to give away.

Shoko Festival is also going on a hip-hop offensive, and Hip-Hop Heads are guaranteed an unforgettable experience. Shoko Festival remains committed to its Hip-Hop roots and its Mash Up Night lineup on the 27 September at Harare Gardens is proof of that. One of the headline acts on the night is the Hip Hop Maverick Kayflow, whose hit songs are known for portraying everyday lived reality in the high-density areas of urban centres, often referred to as the South of Samora. He is the reigning best newcomer at the Zim Hip-Hop Awards and the talent behind hits like Ramba Wakadzvanya, Mfanha Wepa Jecha, Sei Sei and many others..

Zim Hip Hop’s Best Female Rapper of the Year 2023, Young Gemini, is among the household names that will be on the Shoko Festival stage at Peace in the Hood. She is known for her trending hit, Bag, and is a rising force in Zimbabwe’s hip-hop scene. She is undoubtedly a force to reckon with in a male-dominated space, her catalogue includes some of the hottest collaborations with other music giants like Holy Ten and Silent Killer.

The Mukoma Brian hitmaker Voltz JT is the final headliner at Peace In The Hood this year. He is the author of a long list of hits, and one of the many deserving awards he currently has is the Positive Social Award in recognition of his thought-provoking lyrics.

“As a festival that has consistently supported Zimbabwean stand-up comedy over the years we are humbled to have been a small part of the meteoric rise of Learnmore Jonasi and we are so happy to bring him back home for a massive homecoming show!” says Festival Director Samm Farai Monro AKA Comrade Fatso “As a festival that
has given a platform to Zim Hip Hop from Day One we are proud to see how much the industry has grown and can’t wait to have the likes of Voltz JT, Young Gemini and Kayflow rocking our stages!”

Running under the theme #Both SidesOfSamora, Shoko Festival affirms its commitment to celebrating diverse backgrounds and Zimbabwe’s vibrant urban culture. The theme #Both SidesOfSamora reflects this goal, aiming to
bridge the gap between social classes historically divided by Samora Machel Avenue.

The festival offers a variety of events alongside music, including Shoko Comedy Night, Mashup Night, and the Peace in the Hood Concert. The Hub Unconference precedes the festival with talks and workshops on digital media, tech, and the creative economy.

Shoko Festival celebrates free expression, cutting-edge urban art, and alternative youth culture. It is a project of Magamba Network, Africa’s trailblazing creative and digital media organisation.

For more information, visit the Shoko Festival website https://shokofestival.co.zw/