Music Freedom Day will be celebrated in Zimbabwe on March 3rd at the Book Café in Harare. The event organized by leading arts organisations Magamba the Cultural Activist Network and Pamberi Trust will feature a fantastic array of Zimbabwean artists who support the message of freedom of musical expression. Music Freedom Day is an annual event where musicians, music clubs, cultural institutions, broadcasters and media join Freemuse in the celebration of freedom of musical expression. Magamba is a grassroots organization using arts for positive social change while Pamberi Trust runs two of Harare’s leading arts venues aswell as various arts projects.

Artists on the line up include Comrade Fatso & Chabvondoka, Alexio & Shades of Black aswell as Outspoken & the Essence. Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka  are an explosive, genre-busting, insurgent band that defy musical boxes and modern day apolitical pop music. As Zimbabwe’s leading protest band Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka launched in 2008 their much-acclaimed album, House of Hunger, praised internationally but banned by the Zimbabwean authorities because of its outspoken criticism of the repressive regime. They have performed extensively, having been invited to perform at festivals all over the world.

Alexio Kawara and Shades of Black are one of the most exciting acts from Zimbabwe’s new generation of artists. Alexio’s fresh urban musical mix is extremely popular. His song Shaina catapulted him to fame in Zimbabwe. 

Outspoken is a spoken word emcee from Harare, combining soul-stirring lyrics with an Afrosoul hip-hop sound. Outspoken fuses classical and African instrumentation with hip hop beats to deliver a message of inner reflection and hope, using his poetry and music to challenge the increasing hopelessness in our globalized world. Outspoken performs regularly across Southern Africa aswell as Europe and the USA.  He is also the frontman for "Outspoken and the Essence" - a powerful Zimbabwean band that fuses hip hop, reggae, and soulful African rhythms set to release their album this year.