Upenyu Festival Debuts in Harare as Nyaradzo Marks 25 Years

The inaugural Upenyu Festival made its debut in Harare over the weekend, introducing a new addition to Zimbabwe’s events calendar as part of Nyaradzo Group’s 25-year celebrations.

Held at Lifestyle Park, the festival was positioned as a lifestyle and music experience built around the concept of celebrating life. Derived from the Shona word “Upenyu,” meaning life, the event forms part of a broader initiative by Nyaradzo to shift how people engage with themes of living, wellness and community.

The debut edition brought together a mix of local and regional acts across genres such as amapiano, Afro-house and Afro-pop. The lineup included Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa and MaWhoo, alongside a range of Zimbabwean performers.

Emerging acts were given early-stage slots, reflecting the festival’s focus on youth engagement and platform-building. Artists such as Sane Wav, Atenda Chinx and Xiba formed part of the afternoon programming, while more established names took over the evening sets.

Performances throughout the day were supported by DJ sets, with Afro-house and amapiano forming the backbone of the soundscape as the event transitioned from daytime into night.

Beyond the music, organisers placed emphasis on the overall festival experience. Features such as park-and-ride transport options, on-site amenities, food vendors and digital connectivity were incorporated into the setup, alongside visual elements including stage lighting and pyrotechnics.

The festival also integrated lifestyle themes into its structure, with organisers outlining a focus on wellness, connection, food, nature and shared experiences. The concept was designed to create an environment that extends beyond music into a broader cultural and social space.

Upenyu Festival arrives at a time when Zimbabwe’s live events scene continues to expand, with increasing investment in large-scale outdoor experiences. Backed by Nyaradzo’s events and lifestyle division, the festival represents an attempt to establish a recurring platform within this space.

While this marked its first edition, Upenyu is positioned as part of a wider rollout of events throughout the year, with organisers indicating further activations to follow.

As a debut, the festival signals a growing appetite for curated lifestyle experiences in Zimbabwe, blending music, culture and community engagement into a single offering.