263 Culture Festival returns to Harare with an explosive lineup that includes both regional and local superstars.
The NetOne 263 Culture Festival will once again light up Harare’s Belgravia Sports Club on October 26.
Now in its second year, the event promises to build on the foundation of last year’s inaugural edition by showcasing an even grander spectacle.
While the first edition did not generate much hype, something that could be attributed to a lukewarm marketing approach, this time around is a bit different as the streets are talking.
If there is one thing that the organisers have made clear from the get go, it is that they are willing to go big.
We caught up with one of the event’s organisers, T Mula, who gave us more information about the 263 Culture Festival.
263 Culture Festival Lineup
If there is one thing that stood out at the first edition, it was the stacked lineup that looked too good to be true and some sections even rubbished it as a scam. But it wasn’t.
“Last year, many people didn’t believe that all those artists on the lineup were going to come, but every single one of them did,” said T Mula.
“This time around, people trust us because last year we proved that we are legit.”
This year’s festival promises an even more impressive lineup which features Uncle Waffles, Kelvin Momo, Mthunzi, Aymos, Moozlie, Voltz JT, Tamy Moyo and Blxckie among others.
With some of the biggest names in the region set to take to the stage, this will certainly be an event not to be missed.
One of the names that is being thrown around when the event is mentioned is Kelvin Momo and it comes as no surprise.
The artiste comes next to none when the subject is ‘private school amapiano’, as some would call his sound and many of his fans cannot wait to see him live in the capital.
“People should look out to have a great time. This is an experience that you should not miss out on,” added T Mula.
About the 263 Culture Festival
The NetOne 263 Culture Festival is an annual event that celebrates local and international arts through music, fashion, food and dance.
Launched in 2023, the festival’s first edition featured a dynamic lineup which had the likes of Sha Sha, Nadia Nakai, Kamo Mpela, Jah Prayzah and Enzo Ishall.
The festival was born from a vision to promote Zimbabwean arts and culture.
“The intention that is close to our ethos is to promote our own language, our own music and our own culture by allowing our artists to share the stage with some of the top artists in the region and beyond.”
Securing corporate backing for the arts is no easy task, but the organisers of this fete are committed to demonstrating the value of such partnerships.
“263 Culture Festival also intends to show corporates where the value is in associating with the arts.
“Rallying corporates and government to make them see the advantages of supporting the arts is not something that you do very quickly. It takes time but we are fortunate that we have got NetOne as a sponsor this year and we have more entities that we are just finalizing sponsorship with.”
Building a Tourism Hotspot
One of the festival’s key goals is to boost entertainment tourism in Zimbabwe, drawing not just international visitors but also local tourists.
“Entertainment tourism is on the rise, and that is part of our objective.”
The organisers aim to make the 263 Culture Festival an event that drives tourism to Harare, similar to how major music festivals boost local economies around the world.
Marketing efforts have expanded to promote the event across the country.
Final Preparations and Ticketing
As the festival date approaches, preparations are well underway.
“Everything is now starting to take shape, and we are excited by how things are coming together.”
Advance tickets which are going for $20 are already on sale at various outlets around the country including NetOne branches, Liquor Supplies Avondale, Lugar De Pollo, Wiremit and Rimo’s Hair & Beauty Studio.
If you are waiting to buy the tickets a the gate on the day, just be prepared to fork out more as the standard ticket price will jump to $40 with the VIP pass set at $150.
Tickets can also be purchased online on the official festival’s website.
Andrew Moyo is a veteran entertainment journalist with over a decade of experience. He has worked for some of the biggest publications in Zimbabwe including The Sunday Mail.
