The recently concluded Shoko Festival marked its 15th edition, themed The Legacy XV, with a groundbreaking international collaboration: the "Build The Peace" project, partnered with the UK-based organizations Arcadia and In Place of War.
This pioneering initiative is designed to use art and culture to amplify messages of hope and community unity through a creative exchange between Zimbabwe and the UK. Arcadia is celebrated for transforming conflict hardware into unifying art, while In Place of War is a global organization that supports artists working in crisis and conflict zones.
A key feature of the Build The Peace project was a co-designed mural created by young Zimbabwean and UK urban artists. This striking piece was initially exhibited at the UK’s iconic Glastonbury Festival in June 2025 before travelling to Shoko’s Peace in the Hood event in Chitungwiza in September 2025.
Shoko Festival coordinator, Vera Chisvo, highlighted the project's profound relevance.
“This collaborative project is timely in a world where headlines across the globe are becoming more and more about war and hostility,” Chisvo stated. “The project is a clarion call for peace in communities, using art and culture as vehicles for positive transformation.”
This collaboration strongly reinforces Shoko Festival’s commitment to fostering positive social change through artistic expression. By uniting diverse voices and talents from different continents, Build The Peace aims to inspire dialogue and strengthen community bonds in the face of global challenges, serving as a powerful testament to the unifying power of art.
The landmark 15th edition of the festival celebrated a legacy of pushing artistic boundaries, celebrating creative free expression, and elevating urban culture in Zimbabwe and beyond.
- Shoko Festival: Celebrating 15 years of The Legacy XV
- Shoko Festival launches Build The Peace initiative
