Nomsa is a talented poet and songstress from South Africa. Last year she won a South African Music Award for best alternative album. The artist who says that music is her second passion, is a Fulbright Scholar doing a Masters in Political Economics at Fordham University in the United States of America.
She says that her music is inspired by love; “I love to love. I fall in love insanely.” Her album Nomisupa(star) is a fusion of drum-base and Afro jazz and most of its tracks are are love songs.
2012 sees the second edition of the Shoko Festival taking place. The dates are September 18 to 23 and the theme is Takeover the Town.
Natty, the popular UK reggae artist who has played alongside Damian Marley and Adele amongst other well-known artists, will be there to treat the reggae lovers with some conscious vibes.
Poet Mandisa Mabuthoe from Botswana, who won the Poetry Slam Express during last year’s festival will bring her lyrical prowess back to Shoko this year.
From the USA, Shoko will host Mic Crenshaw, a renowned poet and rapper, who has shared the stage with the likes of Wu tang Clan, Dead Prez and the Fugees.
The impressive array of local, rappers, singers, bands, comedians and DJ’s who have confirmed that they will feature at the festival includes Chiwoniso Mairaire, Tehn Diamond, Ba Shupi, Monkey Nuts, Synik, Carl Joshua Ncube and Clive Chigubu.
Two of Harare’s top DJs, Rax and Raydizz, will close off the festival days, pumping out party beats late into the night.
There will be also be a live performance of Zambezi News, the theatrical comedy sketch which saw the first episodes of the recorded series launched just last month in Harare.
