On Saturday the 8th of August, the Harare Hippodrome will be graced by a sermon of rhythm as a new music event has its birth.
Perivent Global Entertainment is living up to the old English proverb: "One good turn deserves another." After the successful debut of Ama2k Fest in April, the event organisers have returned with The Hit Factory. A celebration of Zimbabwean music that is set to see Zimdancehall meeting Zim hip hop on stage in a showcase that honours a new generation of hitmakers leading the country's two biggest genres.
The colour of Zimdancehall has been declared black and Zim hip hop white, yet while the fashion on the night will declare a side this isn't a battle of the genres but more than that. It is a meeting point of music and those that enjoy it. In this Perivent Global Entertainment take a page from Shimza's Best Of Both Worlds from across the Limpopo which has pioneered such concepts.
Zimdancehall and Zim hip hop will not only be represented by the artists that are driving these two genres but the producers, DJs and MCs.
The artists representing Zimdancehall will be Hwinza, Madedido, Blot, Khadja and Jnr Spragga, with Ghost Magician as the team producer, and MC Buckwild, Fyah DJ, MC Gudo, and Yahya Goodvibes making up the rest of the squad.
While Team Zim hip hop will be represented by Bling4, Bagga, Runna Rulez, Saintfloew and Kikky Badass, with Spirit Fingerz as team producer, and MC Tatts, DJ Tamuka and KingHer making up the rest of the team.
Adding to air of anticipation around the event is that each genre will have a surprise act, and Perivent Global Entertainment will also be announcing the international acts that will headline Ama2k Fest 2027.
Although often pitted against each other Zimdancehall and Zim hip hop have long shared a relationship driven by collaboration and a shared struggle. At the turn of the millennium they were both new sounds to the Zimbabwean music landscape but now they are at the top the mountain. A showcase dedicated to celebrating their top talents is befitting of their stature.
Tickets for The Hit Factory are currently on sale online (WhatsApp included) via Ticket Bay, and physical tickets can be purchased from Med Orange Pharmacies.
Doors on the night open at 6 pm, and the event kicks off shortly afterwards. This is set to the first edition of what will be an annual event.