Dzoka Festival: A Homecoming Celebration of Zimbabwean Culture and Pride.

Image credit: ZBC

In the warm glow of a Harare summer evening, Dzoka Festival burst onto the cultural calendar on 18 December 2025, transforming Glamis Arena into a vibrant hub of music, heritage and communal pride. More than a concert, Dzoka, a Shona word meaning “to return” was conceived as Zimbabwe’s flagship homecoming festival, inviting Zimbabweans at home and abroad to reconnect with their roots through song, tradition, and shared experience.

Organised with the explicit aim of bridging the diaspora and local communities, the festival was strategically placed at the heart of the holiday season, a time when families and friends gather from the UK, South Africa, Europe and beyond. For many, the event wasn’t just entertainment - it was a homecoming, a celebration of identity and an affirmation of belonging.

From the outset, Dzoka delivered on its promise of cultural immersion. The sprawling grounds buzzed with colourful traditional performances, rhythmic dance troupes and stalls offering Zimbabwe’s rich gastronomy tourism from hearty local dishes to artisanal crafts. Revellers moved seamlessly between heritage showcases and modern beats, embodying a festival ethos that honours the past while celebrating contemporary creativity.

Onstage, a regionally diverse line-up kept the energy high. British-Nigerian hitmaker Darkoo brought her dynamic fusion of Afrobeats and UK rap, resonating with diaspora audiences familiar with her chart-topping sound. South African house and amapiano heavyweight DJ Maphorisa commanded the crowd with electrifying rhythms that have become synonymous with Southern African celebration. Rising regional stars such as Jazzwrld and Thukutela added fresh musical textures, amplifying the festival’s commitment to showcasing both seasoned and emerging talent.

Throughout the day and into the night, festival goers soaked in more than just music. Dzoka became a cultural marketplace. A space where heritage, fashion, food, and conversation intertwined. For Zimbabweans returning home after months or years abroad, the festival offered a communal anchor, a place to reunite with family and friends, and to immerse themselves in the unique rhythm of Zimbabwean December life.

Ultimately, Dzoka Festival succeeded not merely as an event but as a statement: Zimbabwe’s culture is not static, but alive - celebrated loudly, proudly, and in full colour. As organisers look ahead to future editions, Dzoka is quickly earning its place as a defining festival for heritage tourism and national pride in the heart of Southern Africa.

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