The last edition of Harare Open Mic for the year—aptly themed Let the Artist Speak—takes place this Saturday at Moto Republik from 2 to 5 p.m., held in commemoration of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign. The afternoon promises a vibrant blend of music, poetry, and bold artistic expression, featuring established and emerging voices committed to speaking truth through their craft.
By Plot Mhako
Headlining this edition is fast-rising musician Masa Caroleen, known for her breakout single Paye featuring Mwenje Mathole. Now based in South Africa, Masa is steadily carving her place on the African music scene. She has graced notable platforms such as the Joy of Jazz Festival alongside Silent Nqo, Stories I Never Told in both Johannesburg and Pretoria, and Nijo’s comedy show. Reflecting on how relocating has shaped her artistry, Masa says the move has “expanded [her] creative world in a massive way,” helping her merge her Zimbabwean identity with a broader African sound while maturing as a storyteller.
Beyond music, Masa is also a poet whose piece I Miss Home appeared in the 2024 Ipikai Poetry Journal. She is a voice-over artist and is currently working on her grandfather’s memoir. Despite her growing list of achievements—which include performing at Jacaranda Music Festival, appearing at Skai at Dusk this Friday, and releasing four cross-genre collaborations in November—she still values the grassroots spaces that shaped her.
“I think Open Mics are one of the most important stepping stones for artists,” she says. “It’s where you first realise, Wait… I can actually do this.”
Also returning to the stage is acclaimed poet Linda Gabriel, making a reintroduction after a five-year sabbatical spent focusing on farming, motherhood, and completing her MSc in Disaster Risk and Livelihoods Studies. Recently active at Nyimbo zaKwatu, Royalty and Rhymes, and Sofar Sounds, Gabriel is currently developing new collaborations and planning her second one-woman show for August 2026.
Hosted by poet and playwright Batsirai Chigama, Harare Open Mic continues to grow in scale and diversity. Saturday’s edition will feature young poets including Praymore Kugara, Yvonne Matanhire, I Eat Lemons, Lindsay, and Nyanduwri, alongside musicians Vimbiso Vambe, Rumbidzai Mutasa, Tapiwa Mandinde, Emmanuel Khumbani, and more than twelve new voices making their debut.
The event will be masterfully steered by the energetic MC Vera, the jazz-infused singer-songwriter currently making waves across Harare and beyond
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