Article
Spoken word and hip-hop festival in Zimbabwe
September 23, 2011
The Magamba Network, Zimbabwe’s leading spoken word and hip-hop organisation, has launched Zimbabwe’s first ever festival of poetry, hip-hop and urban culture, in which top international artists perform alongside leading local acts. Running 21–24 September, the Shoko! Spoken Word and Hip-Hop Festival will include a conference involving local artists as well as the invited international artists from eight different countries. Events are taking place in various locations across Harare including Book Café and Mannenberg, with the Alliance Française as the main festival hub.
The spoken word and hip hop movement has consistently grown during the last ten years of Zimbabwe’s decline. Poetry slams and events emerged as spaces for disaffected youth to express their passions, desires and beliefs. While other art forms suffered under the weight of economic and political turmoil, performance poetry flourished with the proliferation of new poets and poetry organizations. The spoken word emerged as a weapon for the young and the defiant. Hip-hop has also grown within Zimbabwe producing many fine rappers within and outside the countries borders while hip-hop culture like street wear and break-dancing have become extremely popular.
Headlining the festival on the outdoor stage at the Alliance Française is the UK hip-hop sensation, Akala, courtesy of the British Council. Another headliner is South Africa’s premier hip-hop band, Tumi and the Volume. Tumi and the Volume is a popular and innovative musical act from Johannesburg, South Africa, known for combining jazz and hip hop with complex and highly politicised lyrics. Other prominent hip-hop artists include Andreattah ‘Drea’ Chum from Botswana, Hired Gun from the USA, Florian Gaag from Germany and Timothy Mwaura from Kenya, as well as Zimbabwe’s own local hip-hop artists, including DJ Rax, Mizchif, Batsirai and Black and Bird.
Magamba was co-founded by two of Zimbabwe’s top poets and hip-hop artists, Comrade Fatso and Outspoken. Comrade Fatso is a pioneering spoken-word artist who has toured the world with his band Chabvondoka. Outspoken is one of the top hip-hop MCs in Zimbabwe. He has toured Europe, the USA and the Southern African region.
The spoken word and hip hop movement has consistently grown during the last ten years of Zimbabwe’s decline. Poetry slams and events emerged as spaces for disaffected youth to express their passions, desires and beliefs. While other art forms suffered under the weight of economic and political turmoil, performance poetry flourished with the proliferation of new poets and poetry organizations. The spoken word emerged as a weapon for the young and the defiant. Hip-hop has also grown within Zimbabwe producing many fine rappers within and outside the countries borders while hip-hop culture like street wear and break-dancing have become extremely popular.
Headlining the festival on the outdoor stage at the Alliance Française is the UK hip-hop sensation, Akala, courtesy of the British Council. Another headliner is South Africa’s premier hip-hop band, Tumi and the Volume. Tumi and the Volume is a popular and innovative musical act from Johannesburg, South Africa, known for combining jazz and hip hop with complex and highly politicised lyrics. Other prominent hip-hop artists include Andreattah ‘Drea’ Chum from Botswana, Hired Gun from the USA, Florian Gaag from Germany and Timothy Mwaura from Kenya, as well as Zimbabwe’s own local hip-hop artists, including DJ Rax, Mizchif, Batsirai and Black and Bird.
Magamba was co-founded by two of Zimbabwe’s top poets and hip-hop artists, Comrade Fatso and Outspoken. Comrade Fatso is a pioneering spoken-word artist who has toured the world with his band Chabvondoka. Outspoken is one of the top hip-hop MCs in Zimbabwe. He has toured Europe, the USA and the Southern African region.
Sponsors
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère