Africa-Press – Cape verde. JOURNALIST and festival organiser, Plot Mhako, was recently excited to witness Zimbabwean musical art being the talk of the day in the heart of Cologne, Germany, during the second edition of the Moto Moto Festival.
A line up of 34 Zimbabwean artistes, among them Mokoomba, Feli Nandi, Awa Khiwe, Nisha Ts, Mary Anibal, Munashe Lorraine, Probeatz, Wowrae, DJ Blaze, Merciless Zim, Solah, Keith and Lil Jam, kept the audience on the dance floor last Saturday.
Being fully aware of the challenges that come with pulling off an African-rooted festival in Europe and, indeed, energised by the resounding success of this year’s cultural explosion which had over 300 people gathered at Odonien for the second edition of the Moto Moto Festival, Mhako is plotting African creative diversity at the 2026 Moto Moto Festival scheduled for July 26.
“It was a defining year, we witnessed a powerful generational dialogue as seasoned acts like Mokoomba shared the stage with rising voices like Nisha Ts and Wowrae,” he said.
“From Awa Khiwe’s explosive fusion of hip-hop and Ndebele identity to Feli Nandi’s soulful ballads, Zimbabwean culture was the centre stage and unapologetically proud.”
The 2025 theme was Afro. Culture. Future and Mhako has given much credit to events like National Arts Merit Awards (Nama), which was managed by the Jacaranda Culture Media Corporation (JCMC), an entity of the China Zimbabwe Exchange Centre, for popularising the Zimbabwean creative sector.
“Looking to 2026, I am more motivated than ever. The upcoming edition will see the introduction of the Moto Moto Academy, focusing on skills development and mentorship, especially for women and underrepresented creatives,” Mhako said.
“Plans are also in motion for virtual reality integrations, artiste residencies and expanded international partnerships in the UK [United Kingdom], South Africa and Canada.
“The fire is only just getting started and after seeing the brilliance of these 26 Zimbabwean artistes, I am dreaming even bigger.
“In 2026, we want to represent the full spectrum of African creativity from north to south, east to west, diasporic and continental.”
Founded and launched in July 2024 in Odonien, Cologne, Germany, the Moto Moto Festival is globally acclaimed and perceived as a pan African cultural showcase designed and programmed to empower Zimbabwean and diaspora talent in a manner that unites civilisations and promote cultural harmony.
The name Moto Moto is Shona for “Fire Fire” and suggests the warmth in a traditional kitchen as people are warmed by a fire while sharing stories in a traditional set up.
The festival features live performances, art exhibits showcasing Zimbabwean stone sculpture, marimba and mbira workshops for children and interactive creative sessions.
“Some of the most unforgettable moments included Feli Nandi, who serenaded the crowd with her soulful Afro-fusion vibes, Nisha Ts, who made her European debut with the backing of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the National Arts Merit Awards and captivated the crowd with her electrifying stage presence,” Mhako said.
“Mokoomba delivered a world-class performance filled with energy, precision and groove. Pamuzinda lit up the stage with powerful traditional dance and drumming last but not least Awa Khiwe dished out bold, unapologetic Ndebele hip-hop that connected deeply with both African and European audiences.”
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