© COPYRIGHT 2020 SHOKO FESTIVAL
Sha Sha, whose real name is Charmaine Mapimbiro, began her career in Zimbabwe as a young vocalist
working with Blindfaith group in 2015 - an artist development program based in Harare. She started
performing at music festivals in Zimbabwe after being encouraged by her friends.
“I was not supposed to get into music. I actually wanted to be a nurse. Growing up I would sing in
the choir and at school plays but I never actually thought I could sing, others did,” she said.
After pursuing music professionally and having her singles hit the airwaves in Zimbabwe, she
partnered with Anashe Media Group and began working with a couple of producers in South Africa.
She started doing gigs and soon started growing a fan base but things really changed when a cab driver
she befriended introduced her to DJ Maphorisa.
Sibo born Sibongile Lenneiye is a Zimbabwean-Kenyan hip-hop artist who channels her multi-ethnic heritage and experiences, into stimulating conversations about life and identity.
Sibo is an active participant in conversations about society, culture, gender and identity.
Notable achievements:
#LyricFridays: remember it’s “NAMA 2019 Best Male recipient -
TiGonzi, the “Heavy Machine” hit maker - Bryan K, and Mr Eazi’s EMPAWA
Africa Inaugural Alumni - Denim Woods.
#StoriesofRebirth - a Digital series that features Leading African
Women and Macro Influencers across the African Creative Spec.
Including Tanzania’s songbird Grace Matata.
Push Athletics Paid Partner - A fashion business partnership with
Zimbabwean active wear brand.
Natasha Muromba popularly known as Natasha Muz. A female artist in zimbabwe aged 24, so passionate about Music.To date she has done a couple of collabos with different local artists and versatile to all musical genres.
Awards:
Best female Queen of hip hop award winner in Zimbabwe 2018
Best female artist in Chitown 2017
Best female artist 2018
Best album 2020 Empire 263 Music Awards
Best Chorus Changamire Award winner 2019
Jah Master born Rodney Desire Mashandure is a Zimbabwean dancehall musician aged 24.
He started recording at the age of 12. He has done a couple of collabos with different local artists.
Achievements:
Best Upcoming artist 2019
Trending Song : Hello Mwari 2020
Blac Perl born Chiedza Babra Maswera is an Award-winning Female Rapper/Tv Presenter whose art resume cross pollinates but is pivoted
in Hip Hop. Blac Perl has been cast at Mashoko 2014 alongside Shingi Mangoma. At Shoko Festival 2015 she was part of the co-headline set that included
Trae Yung, Dobba Don, Noble Stylz and Qonfuzed with Regional acts such as Cassper Nyovest and Busi gracing the same stage.
Awards:
2015 Zim Hip Hop Best Female Award 2015
Song Of The Year 2015
Best Collabo Nominations.
Sox the Poet born Sondlane Dube is a 25 year old Spoken Word Poet and Youth Activist, from Bulawayo. He founded Project Being Human and Bandiwhilila Trust. He also writes for The Bold Dialogue and is the Administrator for Memeza Network Studio, and hosts a poetry podcast called Verse Connoisseur and also publishes his work deep underground poetry website and also judged poetry competitions including 100 Voice by Intwasa. Most of his work cuts across politics, social and youth activism, a bit of flirtation and are an expression of his spirituality
Awards:
2019 National Lafarge Poetry slam
Denzel Takudzwa Mashonganyika known as Probeatz is a twenty five year old rarely talented, versatile artist who can rap, dance, act and beatbox.ProBeatz’s unique talent however lies in his ability to combine the above and if the crowd demands, he easily incorporates other popular genres, into a symphony of music that lifts, invigorates and moves crowds across all social, economic, racial and cultural barriers.
Awards
Dream Star 2015
World Championships of Performing Arts Overall winner in his category 2016
5 Gold medals 2016
Changamire Hip Hop Awards 2016
Thandokuhle Sibanda known as Thandoe, is a 21 year old poet from Bulawayo. Writing became a passion after being a refuge at a time she felt that she didn’t fit in the society. Her inspiration comes from other artists that welcomed her and taught her all the poetry ropes. Making her qualify for the finals of Starbrite twice and making her spread her wings and create confidence in her.
Awards:
2017 Lafarge poetry slam
2018 Intwasa poetry slam champion.
2019 two nominations from Bulawayo Arts Awards,
Victor Mpofu is a multi award winning comedian, humorist and actor who stands tall as a sharp & witty satirist and socio political commentator who points out the absurdity of what is supposedly normal using the stage name, Doc Vikela.His work is mainly in Humor and Cinema & Audiovisual where I explore critical health, social, political and economic topics in my humour which I portray through online comedy skits and stand-up comedy performances.His professional journey as a fulltime comedian began in February 2011 at the legendary BOCAPA OPEN MIC at the BOOK CAFE.
Wencelacy Kudzayi Katuka, Kadem the Comic popularly known as Captain Tito is a stand-up comedian you will always find rocking a round flat hat which is his comedy trademark. He is the current CEO for Simuka Comedy He is one of the 3rd generation of Zimbabwean stand-up comedians who has managed to grow over the years through Simuka Comedy. Kadem the Comic is also a script writer who has done screenwriting for adverts, animated shows, sitcoms, and short films. Being also a Wedding MC and an Events Host, Kadem also has a witty musical taste and has released his debut studio music album.
Tinaye Chiketa popularly known as Conny from Simuka Comedys’ popular show Special Class stepped into the scene in 2016 creating an atmosphere of a veteran who has been in the industry for decades.The actor, comedian and writer, has proven himself to be a natural performer over a short space of time and has earned a journey that can only be described as meteoric. Just two years after, he was nominated for the National Arts Merit Award (NAMA), which is the most esteemed arts award in Zimbabwe, for his works in comedy. Tinaye has produced his on-screen credits which include, commercials, musical video's and film work.
Lennox T. Makurumidze, aliase The Unspoken, is an eloquent Spoken Word Artist, writer and Page Poet based in Harare. He started crafting poetry at the age of 17 so as to find acceptance amongst peers and it has turned out to be his home with largely informed experiences. He is a Resident Artist for Page Poetry Alive an art Collective based in Harare. He also founded the spoken word society at Prince Edward School. The work he writes seeks to tell the hidden stories of people and to better world by opening the eyes of people to different worlds.
Kuda Rice is a 22 year old spoken word artist who believes in moulding his art to speak truth in all spheres, be it social, political orspiritual. He first appeared to the public in 2017 at Izwi Poetry Jam, making him enjoy the stage more and open up to societies’ requirements in terms of poetry, from there his doors started opening for him in the performance circles
Maritawana Dhliwayo is an actress, voiceover artist, vocalist and writer. She currently stars in quite a number of productions such as the web series on Vimeo 'Working Wives' , 'Small House Saga' (a television soapie), Justice (television series) a feature film 'Life Issues' which is yet to be released on Zambezi Magic. Recently, she has joined a new online Zimbabwean radio station called after5 radio as a DJ and presenter. She is also working on a novella titled 'Confessions of a Small House'.
Nyasha Tapiwa Mapuranga stage named Shaldo is a poet born and raised in Harare, he describes himself as a storyteller with an insatiable creative curiosity that leads him to explore various Media artforms from photography to radio then to poetry. Much of his story is informed by the quiet wisdom he garnered from Harare, but it was Windhoek, Namibia that introduced him to various genres and styles of expression. Those two cities will forever be a great source of inspiration to his life
Delah Dube, Born Prudence Delight Dube is a 18 year old Zimbabwean artist from Bulawayo. She is also a human rights activist who has and continues to take part in advocacy through various artforms. Her exposure gained her the next opportunity to take her theatre acting into film when she assumed a
Delah Dube won first place in the Albert Nyathi Talent Search 2019 poetry category .Her first international performance at the Sawubona Music Jam in Soweto 2020 she won the hearts of locals during her performance off used music and poetry. She was also a part of Project Being Human 2020 where she collaborated with local Bulawayo poets
Synik born Gerald Mugwenhi began rapping driven by a desire to tell his own story through hiphop music. With a largely introspective approach, his subject matter is diverse ranging from personal reflections to politically charged lyrics. From Harare’s spoken-word and hip-hop scene Synik went on to perform at various festivals in Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries. Apart from his solo work Synik has done a number of collaborations in Zimbabwe and beyond. His latest project is The Soulsteez EP, a collaboration with an Austrian producer. Having performed on various stages in Portugal including some festivals, as well as being featured on Portuguese band F.E.R.A's album Space, earlier this year, Synik has already made inroads in establishing his brand of hiphop on the Portuguese scene.
Dumi Right, is a performing artist, MC, and songwriter, who has been recognized as a standard bearer in global and progressive hip hop circles for many years. He was first introduced to audiences during hip hop’s golden age (early 90s) as a member of Zimbabwe Legit, one of the first African hip hop groups to gain international recognition. His craft is steeped in classic hip-hop styles, with thought-provoking lyrics and poignant Word play over a backdrop of captivating beats from some of the underground’s finest producers. His catalog includes collaborations with artists from across the globe as well as notable US hip-hop luminaries Over the years, he has also served as point person for several events in the arts industry. This year Dumi was the winner of the inaugural, groundbreaking, Pitch & Flow entrepreneur pitch contest which paired 6 dope, socially conscious emcees with 6 visionary entrepreneurs to pitch a compelling story of social enterprise in rhyme form
Lusaka born Poetess Vanessa Chisakula Aka Van-Van, is an unapologetic page and Spoken word artist. She is a prolific serial Poetivist, filmmaker and women's rights champion (Milead fellow 2019), in her mission to use poetry as an activism tool at heart the issues of prime concern are all sorts of social injustice and gender discrimination leading to her being selected to represent Zambia in the Milead fellowship (Under Moremi Initiative). Picked amongst young female African emerging leaders who convened in Ghana July 2019. https://moremiinitiative.org. Taking her acting further she was in the Zambia-Australia film class 2019 and was also part of the SADC theater camp 2019 (Harare).
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