Shebeen Oktober: The Sound of Summer Uncorked

 By Panashe Julian Chengeta | Mashoko Movement

“You could feel the heat before the sun even set.”

Back again at Moto Republik after skipping September, ShebeenFest returned with a bang — the Hello Summer Edition.
From thrift pop-ups and art galleries to accessories glistening in the evening light, the mood was already simmering before the first bassline dropped.

                     

This wasn’t just another Saturday. It was the culture clocking in for summer.

The Shebeen Set — Main Event Mode

Dilly1Buck, Dingo Duke, Ndonzi Beatx, and Dough Major lit up Moto with that signature Shebeen energy — raw, unfiltered, and born for the stage.

Dilly1Buck opened the set, running through bangers before teasing Batman, an unreleased track that instantly became a fan favourite.
Ndonzi Beatx, the ever-charismatic MC, performed the Shebeen Intro and taught the crowd the Shebeen Dance — a ritual now cemented in the culture.

Then Dingo Duke and Major took over, their chemistry creating a record-breaking moshpit.
Bodies flew through smoke and flashing lights — Moto turned into a movie, no extras, just energy.

“When Dingo and Major hit the stage, Moto became a movie — pure chaos, pure culture.”

Early Heat

The handover was seamless. 263Sims, Mannex, and Xentrico took it from zero to flame.

263Sims delivered tight bars and flawless crowd control, setting the tone early.
Xentrico brought uptown flair, his stagecraft and swagger drawing screams from the crowd.
Then came Mannex, a reggae veteran whose live performance felt spiritual — a moment that grounded the night’s chaos in pure artistry.

Each act added a different frequency: reggae warmth, hip-hop precision, and afro-fusion rhythm, all colliding under one roof.

Momentum & Madness

Then came the wave.
MC Ndonzi Beatx sparked an impromptu freestyle session — hands flew up immediately.
Spaggamabeatz stepped up, dropping bars in Shona and Ndebele, blurring linguistic boundaries.
Bill Collect followed, his flow razor-sharp, feeding off the crowd’s energy.

Dough Major Interlude brought balance — humour, hunger, and heavy bars — debuting his new single Imidhiyetly, which hit like an instant anthem.

Joie le Feu, Nico C, and Takunda followed, each turning the mic into a confession booth.
Joie’s set closed with Never Ending, his collab with J Molley, a crowd favourite.
Then Takunda stepped in with his band, performing tracks from Argh, Honestly Never Mind — and pulling in his partner for a heartfelt rendition of Sylent Nqo’s Huya.

Nico C capped the segment with an unplanned freestyle — and completely butchered it in the best way possible. Nobody saw it coming.

“That’s the beauty of Shebeen — no setlist can predict the spirit.”

Full Throttle

By the time Macfoxx, Liberaxe, and DJ RSK took over, the night was in full bloom.
The tempo climbed with every drop, and the crowd’s stamina refused to fade.

Then Tha Bees had the crowd in frenzy bringing the N.O.P Makoni vibes, Darrel took over blessed the crowd with wonderful melodies, and Millz Million stormed the stage.

Millz owned the moment — her Feelings, Skiri Repatonaz, and Proof sequence had Moto word-for-word, phones in the air, arms raised high.

“Millz didn’t just perform — she levitated. Proof that Zim Hip Hop doesn’t need validation, just a mic and a moment.”

Closing Aura

The night wound down but never lost its flame.

Faa and Blakk3st came through with reggae and dancehall fire — Faa’s voice gliding through the crowd, Blakk3st showing why he’s a Shebeen veteran, commanding every second of the stage.

Then Yung Parka stepped up, backed by his crew 1Syd, performing Waipihwa — and the crowd went into a frenzy.

Making his ShebeenFest debut after his hit collab with Holy Ten, Micky Black brought unmatched charisma and closed with Bhema Bhema, a certified anthem right now.

Finally, Raykaz sealed the night performing tracks from his new album Those Around Me Tape.
A fan in the front row held a sign reading “Raykaz — Album of the Year” — a playful nod to the brewing Zim Hip Hop Awards debates (but that’s a story for another day).

“As the lights dimmed, the echoes of the crowd lingered long after — proof that Shebeen isn’t an event; it’s a heartbeat.”

What Shebeen Oktober Proved

Shebeen Oktober reminded everyone why this festival remains the rawest stage in Zimbabwean culture — a space where genres blur, crews connect, and the scene breathes freely.

From veterans like Takunda to fresh voices like Millz Million, the night reaffirmed what we already know:

This isn’t an industry — it’s a family growing louder.

Photos: VisualsByTanaka, HipHopGazine
Produced by: ShebeenFest × Mashoko Movement
Follow: @mashokomovement | @shebeenfestzw | #ShebeenOktober