3-mob.com 
The second night of Shoko Festival billing delivered sultry feast of top drawer performances as the business end went knee-deep.
First all there was poetry from Aura, So Profound with beautiful accompaniment from Kito. The evening felt intimate, a super kind of special.
After that Ammara Brown kicked main stage action off in earnest with a controlled yet vicious performance involving some electrifying choreography. Ammara is a person who embraces her sexuality with power and her jaw-dropping dance on Crystal Blue Moon – oh that lapdance – was the stuff that creates new fantasies for onlookers. It was raw sexuality, not the tacky kind, but the sort that makes you sell new dreams to yourself. All this was done to great music from the star who seems a different creature after taking a break.
Featured on her set were Guspy Warrior and Jah Prayzah.
And then it was time for Hip Hop Patsula, a last minute replacement for an ill Nneka. HHP’s biggest skill is his versatility as a performer and he showcased that to full effect on Friday to a crowd that gobbled up his performance. He did his research on the country and had multiple local references in his arsenal. It probably helps that his drummer is Tino Beatboy Damba, a Harare native. For many watching, they would not have known that this was a predominantly an improvised set given its last minute nature of his being booked but he showed why he is an African star. Hits like Tswaka, Bosso and Music & Lights made the list as well as a medley of popular South African hits. HHP told 3-mob.com that his next performance in Zimbabwe would properly showcase his band. If that wasn’t bringing it, then imagine what he will do when he has more than a day to prepare.
Legendary UK DJ Rodney P and the Makokoba project then got onto the stage. It was at times confusing but Rodney P did tell us that it was the first time some of those kids had been on a stage, especially of that side. On the whole it was a capable performances, full of energy, raw and intriguing. Rodney P, Ba Shupi and Dhadza D of course were a thrill to watch.
Tehn Diamond rounded off the live performances with what his DJ Take Fizzo calls DijiLive music, a DJ plus a bassist and a lead guitarist. After an extended hiatus from the stage there would have been doubts from some that he was not up to it anymore. When he came out, he was like a man who had a point to prove and in passionate delivery he sold his dream of believing in self and each other. It was a good mix between his old stuff and new goodies He featured an artist by the name of T-shoc, who held his own on Tehn’s iconic Be Amazing.
The night ended with music from Rax and Raydizz on the decks. That was a good look right there.
All in all, a great night of entertainment. Shout out to Dan and Lo for the MCing and Verseless Philo for the beatboxing.
Moment of the night: That dance from Ammara on Crystal Blue Moon takes the cup easily but she would have been excited about HHP making references to her Harare song.
Regret: The size of the crowd could have been better.
Comments
Loading…