Six days of Shoko!

Highly respected, the praise poet represents the conscience and memory of society. In Harare, two young oral poets, Comrade Fatso and Outspoken (pictured above), perform a similar function, creating opportunities for self-expression through the spoken word, rap, graffiti, and break-dance.
Following on last year’s highly successful Shoko! Spoken Word and Hip Hop Festival, Cde Fatso and Outspoken have put together Take Over the Town 2012, when Shoko will present an array of local and international musicians, poets, rappers, singers, DJs, comedians, and cultural activists, in a six day programme starting on 18 September.
The main festival will take place at the Alliance Francaise in Herbert Chitepo Avenue, but events will also be held at the Book Café in Samora Machel Avenue, Gallery Delta in Livingstone Avenue, Red Bar in Newlands, and Glen Norah B for the Peace in the Hood concerts and performances, held on Sunday, September 23, the final day of the celebrations
Shoko Comedy Night takes place on the Chingono Stage at the Alliance Francaise, on Wednesday September 19. Prepare to be alternately scandalised or weeping with laughter as international comedians John Vlismas and Carl Joshua Ncube take the floor. If you’re of a sensitive nature, avoid sitting in the front row.
At the Book Café on Thursday, September 20, The Poetry Slam, ‘Breaking Barriers’, features poets from all over Africa. Each poet has three minutes to deliver their piece, to be judged by the audience. On Friday evening at the Alliance Francaise, DJ Smoove will be on the turntables for The Clash concerts. Reggae will meet hip-hop, and mbira will meet indie-rap in partnerships never before imagined.
Besides these and many other performances, a number of free workshops will be held. Zimbabwean rising star of hip-hop TEHN DIAMOND and South African vocalist and activist Nomsa Mazwai will share their skills and teach you to sing out against the AIDS stigma, at the Vera Amphitheatre at Gallery Delta. Carl Joshua Ncube will teach you how to make people laugh and to appreciate the funny side of life.
Celebrated German DJ Andi Teichmann will demonstrate his talent at a workshop at the Alliance Francaise, and the graffiti Tune Crew will show you how to produce masterpieces of urban culture.
‘Rumble’ starts at 11pm on Saturday at the Alliance Francaise, when Harare’s top DJs spin their favourite hip hop, dance hall, House, R’n B and party music. On Sunday evening, chillax at Red Bar in Newlands and savour the last moments of Shoko! 2012. The festival runs from 18-23 September 2012. For more info: www.shokofestival.com.