Shoko Festival Announces 2025 Comedy Lineup

Oscar J Jeke – Zim Now Reporter

Shoko Festival, Zimbabwe’s longest-running urban culture festival, has unveiled the highly anticipated lineup for its landmark 15th Edition Comedy Night, set for Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Harare Gardens.

The event will be headlined by renowned comedian King Kandoro, who is making a triumphant return to the festival.

King Kandoro, born Mukudzei Majoni, has cemented his status as one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated comedic talents. His return to Shoko follows a successful international tour and a record-breaking performance in December 2024, where he sold out the 3,500-seater Celebration Centre.

Festival director Samm Farai Monro described Kandoro as a prime example of the festival’s legacy in nurturing artists who “speak truth to power.”

The Comedy Night lineup features a diverse mix of Zimbabwean and international talent. Among the performers is Kenya’s Justine Wanda, a satirist renowned for her show Fake Woke With Justine, who will bring a continental perspective through her sharp social commentary. Also taking the stage are Munyaradzi Mike Chipere, known for blending Shona, English and street lingo in his storytelling; the versatile comedienne Munya; and Bulawayo Arts Award winner Mbongeni Ignatius Ndlovu.

Award-winning DJ Iroq will keep the energy high with sets between performances.

Festival organisers emphasised that the curated lineup reflects Shoko’s ongoing commitment to fostering creative collaboration and providing a platform for diverse artistic voices.