SEPTEMBER 26 will be the Mash Up Night of the Shoko Festival at the Harare Gardens, where award-winning South African hip-hop legend-turned-amapiano sensation Reason AKA Sizwe Alakine and United Kingdom (UK)’s award-winning rapper, OneDa, are billed to pace up enigmatic acts.
The Shoko Festival, which is in its 15th edition, happens to be Zimbabwe’s longest-running festival of urban culture and tradition.
On Thursday September 25, the festival opens with the Comedy Night headlined by King Kandoro, followed by the Mash Up Night the next day on September 26, and closes with the Peace in the Hood on September 27 in Chitungwiza.
Fusing South African amapiano grooves with raw UK rap energy, the Mash Up Night will transform Harare Gardens into a livewire of musical innovation.
From Reason’s hip hop-to-amapiano metamorphosis to OneDa’s genre-defying lyricism, the night is set to stretch the creative limits of Zimbabwe’s urban scene.
And with local talents like Yadis, Enhle and Paintafresco joining the international stars under the Mashoko Tapes Residency, the night becomes more than a concert and shall mark a legacy of unending happiness.
“Shoko Festival, is excited to announce two groundbreaking additions to its much-anticipated Mash Up Night,” read a communication from Shoko Festival.
“For its landmark 15th edition, Shoko organisers have revealed the final round of headliners that includes South African hip-hop legend turned amapiano sensation Reason AKA Sizwe Alakine and UK’s award-winning rapper, OneDa.
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“This year’s Mash Up Night is set to take place at Harare Gardens on Friday, September 26th.”
Sizwe Alakine, who has also been nominated for Best SA Hip-Hop Album of the Year, is a versatile South African artiste who successfully transitioned from being one of Mzansi’s most respected hip-hop voices to a pioneering force in the amapiano movement.
He will bring a unique Hip-Hop vs Amapiano Sound Clash experience to Shoko Festival.
Born Sizwe Moeketsi, hetransfigured through various nicknames such as Reason, ReasonHD, gaaaAHDbody and SizweAlakine, respectively.
His discography includes The Reasoning (2010), Audio 3D, Audio High Definition (2014), Audio Re Definition (2015), Love Girls (2017), Azania (2018) and Alekine World (2022), respectively.
Multiple award-winner OneDa is a producer and poet from Manchester, UK, whose sharp lyricism mixed with melodic vocals and punch lines make her much more than commonly celebrated artists and performers.
With backing from BBC 6 Music, 1Xtra and BBC Radio 1, she was recently selected as BBC Introducing’s One to Watch by the AIM Independent Music Awards and is known for her seamless manipulation of both old school and new school vibes.
OneDa is set to work on a collaboration with rising Zimbabwean urban artists Yadis and Enhle during her time in Zimbabwe.
OneDa had her debut album formula OneDa (debut album) in year (2024) and a single set it off the same year.
Shoko Festival director Sam Farai Monro, popularly knows as Comrade Fatso, could not hide his exhilaration and said: “We’re so excited to have Reason AKA Sizwe Alakine headline Shoko this year as he embodies what this year’s festival is about: building an urban culture legacy.
“He’s a veteran of South African hip-hop who has been a key player on the scene for two decades and remains hugely influential with his recent shift to amapiano.
“We also can’t wait to see UK rapper OneDa’s collaboration with Yadis and Enhle,of course, which shows Shoko’s commitment to creating platforms for international growth for our alternative urban artists.
“This year’s Mash Up Night will be a real mash-up of different genres as hip-hop clashes with amapiano, while UK rap meets our urban sounds.”
On September 27, the spotlight shifts to Chitungwiza Unit L Grounds for Peace in the Hood, a high-energy closeout featuring street kings like Bagga, Young Fantan, Madedido, Jnr Spragga and RunnaRulez.
From comedy slams to cultural mashups and township anthems, Shoko Festival 2025 is calling loud, live and unapologetically urban.
