BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
THIS year’s edition of the annual Shoko Festival will be held virtually with organisers encouraging artists to be creative during this COVID-19 pandemic.
The country’s biggest urban culture jubilee that brings together diverse arts and cultural disciplines will be held from September 20 to 25 under the theme: Shoko Universe.
In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style yesterday, festival director Farai Munroe, also known in the creative arts circles as Comrade Fatso, said the arts and culture fete would bring to the fore artists’ innovativeness in delivering entertainment.
“COVID-19 and lockdowns have challenged us to be more creative as festival organisers. This year’s 11th edition of the festival will be a fully virtual experience. We plan to take the virtual festival format to the next level as we invite the audience to join us in the Shoko Universe,” he said.
“It is key that we continue to find ways to creatively host events so that we can support our artists and inspire our audience with crazy new sets and powerful art.”
Comrade Fatso said the festival would be a celebration of diversity.
“As an answer to the times we are living in, this year, we will invite the audience to be part of the virtual Shoko Universe. We will take our audience through the journey of our collective imaginations in gritty urban culture, explosive music, crazy sets and never-seen-before collaborations,” he said.
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“We promise to surprise our audinece and inspire them with top order performances So they should make a date with Shoko Universe,” he said.
Comrade Fatso said performing acts would be announced in due course.
Over the years, Shoko festival has become a platform for hundreds of young rappers, comedians, musicians and spoken word artists to perform, collaborate and express themselves through their various artistic talents.
The festival also curates cutting-edge collaborations between local and international acts and arranges international tours for young local artists.
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