Murmures

Shoko festival organisers, Magamba Network last Friday hosted the third audience panel in a bid to acquire ideas for the advancement of the annual fete.

The meeting held in Harare was attended by local opinion leaders from different organisations that cited many discrepancies between the festival’s aim and its execution.

Most of the criticism was however subconsciously quelled by the event’s achievements to date as the build up to the 5th edition ensue.

In an interview with NewsDay, Magamba Network media officer Tafadzwa Sharaunga said the initiative was crafted to rid the assumption factor in favor of reality to boost the festival’s relevance.

“It is an added advantage to work from a point of knowledge than assumptions. We are doing the audience panel system as completion of our ongoing marketing survey in order to broaden our festival reach and enriching the audience’s experience,” he said.

Sharaunga said that they will have more meetings of the sort in the build up to the much anticipated festival in September.

“This year is the first time we are doing these (audience panels) in a bid to amp up the 2015 edition so in addition to the three we have conducted so far we will host two more.”

The Shoko festival is a six-day multifaceted showcase of urban culture-related events ranging spoken word, comedy, Hiphop and many more contemporary urban practices.

The event plays host various local and international acts is also aimed at breaking the barriers between media, culture and activism to create dialogue, progress and cutting edge new urban culture.

Since its inauguration in 2011, the fast growing annual event has attracted bigger and diverse audiences each year with their “peace in the hood” shows increasingly gaining popularity in the city’s high density suburb.