Sofar Sounds Harare recently hosted a dynamic cultural display that combined poetry, literature, music, and visual arts to celebrate storytelling and artistic expression. The event, dubbed Black History Month: An Evening of Spoken Word, was hosted in collaboration with the United States Embassy Harare and Word Kalcha as part of the Freedom 250 celebration celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States..
The event explored cultural connections between African American history and Zimbabwe’s creative community while highlighting the lasting relevance of artistic expression as a tool for freedom. Similar performances were arranged as part of a global Sofar series, which connected Zimbabwean artists to a global creative network in places like London, Barcelona, Luxembourg, and New York.
Curated by Khumbulani Muleya, Sofar Sounds Harare continues to position itself as a multidimensional storytelling platform that integrates different art forms. Muleya described the initiative as a creative space that brings together various mediums united by storytelling.
“Sofar is a multi dimensional storytelling platform that incorporates all the things that I have a passion for. For this recent edition, we had a potpourri of creative expressions including poetry, book readings, visual art, cultural history, and music. All these mediums have one thing in common, storytelling,” he said.
He noted that the platform has developed steadily over the past three years and is now entering a new phase marked by strategic partnerships with organizations such as Star FM Zimbabwe and Delta Beverages through its Bohlingers Lager brand, as well as Word Kalcha, a spoken word platform supported by the French and Swiss embassies.
The evening featured a carefully curated programme that included book readings, spoken word poetry, hip hop and acoustic music performances. Opening remarks were delivered by the US Embassy Public Affairs Counselor Melinda Crowley, who emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and the role of artistic platforms in strengthening international relationships.
Literary readings were presented by writers including Zaza Muchemwa, an International Writing Program alumnus, who read from works inspired by African American literature as well as her own original writing. Other readings included essays and poetry exploring identity, culture and freedom.
The spoken word segment featured performances by Tadana Nakai, Mambo Guramatunhu, Batsirai Chigama, Takudzwa Goniwa and Kuda Rice. Their presentations explored themes such as social change, spirituality, mental health and the impact of modern society.
Hip hop performances by Nyasha Munashe and Banshee highlighted music’s role as a platform for youth expression and social commentary.
Acoustic performances by Nasibo, Mwendamberi and Vera brought an intimate musical dimension to the programme. Nasibo performed mbira songs addressing accountability and cultural identity, while Mwendamberi and Vera delivered Afro sets influenced by previous cultural exchange programmes.
The event opened with a DJ set that incorporated American music, providing opportunities for networking and cultural exchange among artists and audiences.
Hosted at the Friendship Bench Hub, the gathering also included a short presentation about the organization’s mental health initiatives, reinforcing the link between artistic expression and community wellbeing.
The concert concluded with the curator announcing upcoming Sofar Sounds Harare events, including a special International Women’s Month performance scheduled for March. The organizers said that the platform will continue expanding opportunities for Zimbabwean creatives to share their stories locally and internationally.
