The winds of August have come to an end, and spring is about to announce itself for a moment, before summer reigns. This inevitably sees the Jacarandas bloom, the mango trees bud and Harare's favourite festival making its return.
From 2 - 4 October the Jacaranda Music Festival will once again be taking over Thornpark Polo Club for its one of a kind music experience.
While last year's lineup was tinged with nostalgia, this year Jacaranda is very much in the moment. Here's a few things we've noted about this year’s edition:
The Jacaranda Business Hub
Ahead of the release of the final lineup, Jacaranda announced that it would be launching the Jacaranda Business Hub. This will be a space for businesses to showcase and activate brands inside the Jacaranda Music Festival.
At a time when everyone is just putting together a few artists on a flier and calling it a festival (it's really just a concert and that's okay), it's great to see a platform actually adding to the festival experience.
10+ continuous hours of music can get monotonous and there might be performers you're not excited to see, the Jacaranda Business Hub provides a perfect relief for such moments. Now its just up to the businesses to buy in.
The Bulawayo DJs
If you pay attention to the DJ scene then by now you know that the City of Kings & Queens has some of the country’s most gifted talents on the decks. Some of these talents will be getting a deserved spotlight at this year’s Jacaranda.
BRZE, a smooth selector who has graced platforms such as One Giant Picnic, will be playing Jacaranda Friday. Kotwane Hikwa, who absolutely rocked the Carpe Diem DJ festival in May, will be gracing the decks on Saturday, while Nizhe DeSoul, a DJ on par with almost any region name, showcases his talent on the closing night.
FRIDAY
Jacaranda is obviously curated for every single day to have something that makes you want to attend. This often sees your favourite acts split up across the weekend and some days having just the lone name that excites you. Now while Friday has Jah Prayzah, Tamy Moyo and The Travellers Band, it feels like it got the short end of the stick. We will still be there but it needed something more, maybe just one of the international names.
Zee Nxumalo
Some may debate this (they would be wrong), but in the last few years there are only a handful of vocalists on the African continent who have had as many hits as Zee Nxumalo. Talk of "Mali," "Thula Mabota," "Ama Gear," "Fomo," "Ngisakuthanda," "Mamma," "Rato Laka," "Bhampa," and "Ngithathiwe."
To add to this Zee is a brilliant performer, and if she delivers anything close to what she did at 263 Culture Fest in 2024, we're in for something memorable.
SATURDAY
Any multi day festival always has that one day you cannot miss. For this year's Jacaranda that day is Saturday. From Mr Jazziq who has been a constant presence on the amapiano scene, to Jnr Spragga (and the Spirit Chronicles) who is at the forefront of Zimdancehall's resurgence, to Feli Nandi who is redefining the heights female musicians can reach in Zimbabwe, and Sylent Nqo who is reshaping what Zimbabwean music can be, the lineup is stacked.
NEW TALENTS
As it has done for years the Jacaranda Music Festival will once be giving a platform to rising names. The coming edition will see the likes of Enhle, Mandie Mae, Nasibo, and Mwendamberi all gracing the stage. A celebration of talents yet to breakthrough in the music space but deserving of recognition, and Jacaranda has the potential of being a springboard for their careers.
What day are you going to be attending this year?
FRIDAY:
Andile Brown, Tamy Moyo, Jah Prayzah, The Travellers Band, DJ Young Vibes, BRZE
SATURDAY:
Sylent Nqo, Njelic, Mr Jazziq, Feli Nandi, Mwendamberi, Kotwane Hikwa, Msiz'kay, Maluka, Jnr Spragga and the Spirit Chronicles, Calequi Y Las Panteras & Nasibo, DJ Tatz Bless, Taku Made The Beat
SUNDAY:
Zee Nxumalo, Caiiro, Minister Michael Mahendere, Fusion 5 Mangwiro, Nizhe DeSoul, DJ Young Vibes, Thando Lewandowski, MJ the DJ, Enhle, Just Leo, Mandie Mae, Mokoomba