Shoko Mash Up Night - Kayflow's moment and a trip down Nostalgia Lane with Nadia Nakai: A Review

When the first round of this year's Shoko headliners was announced I had my doubts, but when the full lineup was revealed... I still had my doubts. Yet to sum up my experience of this year's Shoko Festival, especially the Mash Up Night, I would say it's been a progressive experience of being proven wrong.

Nadia Nakai

Brought together by a joint effort between Shoko Festival and multi-award-winning polymath, AneUnhu Gwatidzo (along with production support staff from the Santu Guild team that he brought with him), Mash Up Night was an eclectic experience of music with hip hop at its core. 

Now seemingly forgotten and long gone from its glory days as the home of HIFA (Harare International Festival of the Arts), the Harare Gardens mainstage was transformed into an awe-inspiring platform, perfect for the mosaic of art that would captivate an eager audience. Credit should be given to Nombi (founder of NombiStyleth) the Visual Strategist/Art Director. A previous collaborator with AneUnhu (the two worked together on a NAMA-nominated documentary).

On the occasion, it took a lot for an act to stand out. Not simply because there was a wide array of artists but because everyone brought the best of their craft. Proceedings were kicked off by TAPIWA, whose touch on the decks gets ever more dexterous with each occasion. 

The Voice2Rep 2024 cohort then had their much-deserved moment on stage, with stellar performances all around that brought the crowd to life. Lorna Real Love, Sher ZW, Vicky Soulful and Shingirai Manyenga are especially remarkable. All through the show we had dance interludes courtesy of Afrikera Arts Trust. Contemporary and interpretative pieces that had the audience engaged as much as the music.

We were also treated to an impromptu performance from Banshee, whose way with words commands attention in a way that can't be ignored.

Dingo Duke & Dough Major

When the more established acts finally took to the stage, Bhekiwe Dube was like a shining star on a moonless night. Equal parts brilliant in her vocal delivery and choreography, she kicked off a slew of what would be brilliant performances. 

Dingo Duke & Dough Major were 'Ghetto Superheroes' in every meaning of the phrase, Lalla Martin instantly won herself a new fan, RayKaz was sliding with the zodies as good as heard on Spotify, Rutendo Jackie's vocal delivery was memorable and Paintafresco only got just a moment but that was all he needed to make his mark.

Chengeto Brown was a surprise act on the night and although a lesser-known member of the Brown family, that is by no means a measure of talent and her interpretation of Andy Brown's "Ndoenda" certainly made sure to showcase that.

Now it would remiss of me if I didn't take a moment to appreciate the true heroes of the night, which was the house band put together by this year's curator AneUnhu Gwatidzo. 

The house band had Jairos Hambahamba on the keyboards (also Music Director), Wellington Mutepaire on lead guitar, Basil Mahachi on bass guitar, Geoffrey Ndekha on drums, Kudzai Muwori on percussion, Ranga Pashapa on saxophone, with Min’enhle Mguni and Panashe Gandanhamu on backing vocals.

They maintained an exceptional standard with every performer throughout the night and that was only matched (and maybe surpassed), when Kayflow and Nasper hit the stage with the Jecha Band. It was arguably one of the best things to ever grace a Shoko Festival stage. 

Kayflow

From the first performance I saw of him to now, what has set Kayflow apart has always been a clear understanding of what he's trying to achieve between him and his crew. His set wasn't just a music performance but a theatre. 

It was a scene from a bar that had patrons in a lounge (DJ Tamuka, Bush Baby, Denzel Sambo and Takudzwa Manando obliged to be props), along with a dance floor and fully stocked bar, tended to by a mixologist. He opened his performance with "Sei Sei" and closed it out with "Mpfana Wepa Jecha," while giving us the very best of his catalogue and a taste of music from his upcoming EP. There was a glitzy guitar, the flash of stage lights to the rhythm of the music and dance moves that were a perfect accompaniment to the performance. 

From the euphoria of Kayflow's performance, we dived headlong into nostalgia with Nadia Nakai. While artists, especially rappers, have often been accused of coasting through performances on the strength of their name/catalogue, Nadia defies this by actually being true. The track selection for her set was impeccable and she was in sync with every moment. Choreography and her lines.

Nadia Nakai 

What started with "Sqwaa" went through "Imma Boss," "More Drugs," "Money Back," "Amantombazane," "Do Like I Do," "Dangerous," and a "Ragga Ragga" performance that ended with the eruption of chants of "Pullo! Pullo!" Something most likely lost in translation to Nadia. When she closed out her performance with "Naaa Mean," it was to a satisfied audience.

Full disclosure: Nadia did walk over and grab my hand during her performance, and at one point we rapped a verse word for word without breaking eye contact, yet that doesn't even bias my perception of her performance in the least. Sometimes the stage presence is a match for the aesthetic.

Now while the highs of Mash Up Night certainly outweigh everything else, I have a few bones to pick with Shoko Festival from an organisational perspective. Whoever made the final curatorial decisions on the day, sent out artists in such a haphazard manner. A consistent elevation of tempo was nonexistent and we just drifted from highs to lows. To add insult to injury that chaos in the lineup seemed to rob artists of their deserved time on stage.

Also for a serious festival, Shoko had an unserious number of restrooms (I cannot stress this enough, handidi kuona manice achinetsekana) and the security could've been better, especially with the location. However, this ranks as my favourite ever Shoko Festival experience, just behind the year they hosted AKA. The roll call for everyone who made this event what it was might be too long to put here but the good work did not go unnoticed.

Greedysouth rating: 7.5/10

Enjoyed reading this news report? Support Greedysouth by buying the team a cup of coffee. Your support assists in the production of such quality reports. Thank you.