Organisers of the Shoko Festival said the upcoming Comedy Roast will be a platform for participants and audience to take a break from politics.
The Shoko Comedy Roast will this year host hip-hop producer and entrepreneur Kuda Musasiwa, aka Begotten Sun.
The roast will be one of the headline shows at this year’s edition of the Shoko Festival, which takes place from September 28 to 30 in Chitungwiza.
The first edition of the comedy roast was headlined by opposition politician Linda Masarira in 2021.
This year’s edition comes after an extremely popular, sold-out Shoko Comedy Roast in 2022, which featured the controversial and outspoken politician Temba Mliswa.
Simuka Comedy and Shoko Festival organisers say they are up to the task.
Leading Zimbabwean stand-up comedian and Simuka Comedy creative director Doc Vikela will be the roast master for the evening.
“The comedy roast this year comes with a difference, we have taken a break from politicians who really need the break after the bruising 2023 polls,” Doc Vikela said.
“We are looking into hip-hop heads; Zimhip-hop has been growing in leaps and bounds.
“What better person to roast than Kuda, who is a hip-hop head, a political commentator and many other things.
“This is also a celebration of his life after we nearly lost him to Covid-19 during the pandemic.
“We know he will fight back, but that makes it all the more fun!
“Comedy lovers will be in for a rib cracking treat with this iconic roast.”
Television personality Candice Mwakelyelye and rapper Blacperl will be the only females on the roast panel that will also feature R Peels, Ricky Fire, Baba Shupi, Babongile Sikhonjwa and the roast master Doc Vikela.
This year’s edition will feature a star-studded line up of headline acts including the Nama-award winning rapper Bling4, globetrotting Zimbabwean singer Gemma Griffiths and the popular Afrobeats artist Nutty O.
Also headlining the festival is South Africa’s Xabiso Vili, the current World Poetry Slam Champion and Botswana’s multi award-winning Afro-pop artist Jordan Moozy.
The festival will feature a variety of events, including the opening Mash Up Night, the popular Shoko Comedy Roast, the Hub Unconference and the Peace in the Hood Concert.
The jamboree will kick off on Thursday September 28 at Moto Republik with Mash Up Night.
It will host The Women's Cypher, a live performance by some thrilling female MCs including Young Gemini, Noluntu J and Banshee.
Shoko Festival is a celebration of free expression, cutting-edge urban art and alternative youth culture.
The festival is a project of Magamba Network, Africa’s creative and digital media organisation.
