Shoko Festival : The Rising ...

It was a ‘freaky’ Friday alright and this lady was on a mission, a MISSION to ‘arrest MAFAROES courtesy of Shoko Festival right?!

As cheesy as that may sound hears my ‘to do list, you know for reference:

• Ñ       Freak -em palazzos *check*
  
• Nude-I’ll-snog-you-in-a-Water-Whirld-bush-sex-appeal-lipstick *check*
  
• Hijacked fellow partners in crime *check*
  
• Arrival: ‘Fashionably Late’ the African version plus two more hours *check*
  
•  Identify watering holes in the vicinity *check*
  
• Use them religiously after every few minutes *check!*

You wouldn’t believe our luck; just as we arrived we walked slam-BHAM into the coolest Chiwoniso Tribute on a stage which happened to be named in her honour; a combination of crazy tribal percussion, Reggae chanting - singing and some Afro-electronic to make any house-heads’ panties wet. To say Willis Watafi, Sista Flame & my newest discovery of awesomeness, Djembe Monks from Bulawayo killed Chi’s ‘Mai’ is an understatement. Never have I heard that song in such a positive and uplifting vibe.

Mzungu Kichaa, looked anything but crazy, in fact; clad in a skinny-tee, PALAZZOS topped off with a grass hat, he looked so cultured, so cultured he stole my heart. My heart is in Tanzania as you read this, maybe it was all that Masai jewelry? Maybe if I tweet him he’ll give it back! Anyway, the crowd loved the guy (see what I mean?); he taught the crowd some Masai, asked about our well-being, livestock, crops etc. He must have known we were a crowd of new farmers *Hihihi!* As he made room for Tariro neGitare the crowd had a feel of what this Bongo genre was all about; catchy Afro-Jazz with the occasional touch of Sungura guitar vibes.
Watching Tariro for the first time, I knew within that instant why her Twitter handle was ‘Wildfire’, incidentally that was the first song she performed. 

This happened to be my first time watching her perform and yes she was all woman, captivating the audience. Even the restless Tony Rebel fans were transfixed as she went. More so when her Mzungu co-performed the reggae influenced ‘Chitima’. 

Flanked by Mannex Motsi, Jah Farai and Lady Thanda as background, Tony Rebel made it onto stage to the sound of screaming frenzied fans (mostly males that looked vana baba-baningi!)! Dressed in an all red Michel Jackson inspired outfit, Tony looked all out ecstatic to be on stage in Zimbabwe. So much he sang about it. His performance though filled with typical “PULL-UP!!” teases was eventful, engaging, entertaining and well worth the wait. 

Mbira-Princess, Hope Masike made a quick cameo as she translated ‘If God is on my side’ into a souled out Shona version. Jah Farai, Lady Thanda and Mannex each had moment to shine. Rightfully so they were all top notch and flew both ‘the’ colours and ‘our’ colours pretty high!  After the host for the evening Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa’s (Zifm) and her Starfm co-host called it a night, the people moved the party to the Julius Chingono Stage where Otis ‘The Flow’ Fraser (My radio idol *screams*) was ready and waiting playing some feel good old school as the crowd siphoned through.

It was there the ‘REAL’ good vibes flowed as a smaller crowd of the patrons mingled and danced on the grass till the wee hours of 4am. Yes of course I was one of them barefooted and rapturous till it was time to go as The Rising of the Sun neared.

Shoko Festival 2013 kicked some major...*cough* Shoko Festival 2013 arrested some Massive Mafaroes, next year it’s so F%&#!ng on! Can’t wait!