When Unplugged Zimbabwe returns to First Capital Bank Sports Club in Harare on 28 March 2026, the festival will again bring together a mix of international and local talent for one of the country’s most established live music platforms.
The lineup is headlined by South African Afro-soul star Ami Faku, alongside local names such as Voltz JT, Nutty O, Kae Chaps, Atenda Chinx, and MuGaratia.
This year also introduces the Next Superstar Initiative, a new program meant to spotlight emerging artists by giving them a performance slot on the main stage while connecting them to industry mentorship and support.
Takunda Takes the Slot
The first artist to benefit from the initiative was decided through a public poll.
Hip-hop fans rallied behind Yadis and Millz Million, two artists who represent the new generation of rap talent. Yadis in particular came into the vote with serious credentials after winning ZHHA 2025 Best Female Artist.
But the final result went to rising R&B singer Takunda, who now earns the opportunity to perform at one of the country’s most visible live stages.
From a hip-hop media perspective, many would have liked to see a rap act take that slot. However, when you look at Unplugged’s musical identity, the result makes sense. The festival leans heavily toward live-band R&B, Afro-soul and Afro-pop, and Takunda’s sound fits naturally into that format.
Kae Chaps Sets the Tone
The inclusion of Kae Chaps on this year’s lineup says a lot about the sonic direction Unplugged is leaning toward. His catalogue lives comfortably between Afro-pop and R&B, and that melodic, emotionally driven style has long been the backbone of the Unplugged experience.
It is also the kind of sound that shapes the festival’s atmosphere. Kae Chaps’ music is built for sing-alongs, couples in the crowd, and the easy sway of a live band rather than the intensity of rap mosh pits.
In many ways, MuGaratia represents a similar journey. Like Kae Chaps before him, MuGaratia built his early audience through hip-hop platforms, even though his music leans more toward soul and Afro-pop songwriting. The difference now is scale. This Unplugged stage will easily be the biggest platform he has stepped onto.
For MuGaratia, the formula is simple. If he walks on stage and performs Pemurai Dzose with conviction, that alone could win over the crowd. The project already carries the kind of cult-classic reputation that fans hold onto tightly. Not to say the rest of his releases haven’t been strong, but Pemurai Dzose remains the body of work people point to when they talk about his artistry.
Unplugged could be the moment where that music moves from intimate listening sessions to a full festival audience. In his own words, it might be time to take the music beyond “late nights in Chitungwiza with 30 of his niggas.”
Alongside him is Atenda Chinx, a rising songbird from Chegutu who is steadily building her reputation in the Afro-pop lane. Fresh off winning NAMA Breakthrough Artist of the Year 2025, she has become one of the most consistent new voices on the scene, with several of her singles trending across digital platforms.
Sonically, she fits neatly into the musical bracket the festival appears to be curating this year. Strong vocals, melodic songwriting and records that translate well with a live band setup. That combination is exactly what the Unplugged audience tends to respond to.
Voltz JT Needs a Statement Performance
The biggest talking point from a hip-hop standpoint is Voltz JT.
There is no debate about his status. He remains the most influential rapper in Zimbabwe and the face of the Jecha Trap movement. But the reality is that 2025has been a quiet year for him musically. A few releases have landed, but none have carried the same impact as the records that previously dominated the scene.
That is why Unplugged matters for him.
Last year the festival stage belonged to Saintfloew, whose performance reminded everyone why he is one of the most electric live rappers in the country. This year, Voltz has the chance to grab that same spotlight and remind audiences why he sits at the top of the hip-hop hierarchy.
A strong live set here could reset the narrative around his current run.
Nutty O Arrives With Momentum
Standing on the other side of the genre spectrum is Nutty O.
While hip-hop debates continue online, the dancehall-rooted star is currently one of the most in-form artists in Zimbabwe. He arrives at Unplugged fresh off winning Outstanding Song of the Year at the 2025 National Arts Merit Awards, a reminder that riddim-driven records still dominate large sections of the market.
His stage reputation is also well established. Nutty O’s performances tend to lean into crowd control, sing-along hooks and high-energy delivery, the kind of formula that often works perfectly in festival environments.
Riddims vs Raps … Again
Put Voltz JT and Nutty O on the same lineup and the subtext becomes obvious. For years, Zimbabwe’s urban music conversation has swung between two poles: hip-hop and dancehall. Unplugged is not a clash stage, but the contrast will still be interesting to watch.
A Moment Fans Would Love to See
With Ami Faku bringing continental star power and a lineup that mixes established names with emerging artists, Unplugged Zimbabwe 2026 once again positions itself as a key checkpoint in the country’s live music calendar.
If Unplugged leans fully into the collaborative spirit of the lineup, there are a couple of moments that could easily become highlights of the day.
One obvious one would be Kae Chaps closing his set with Nutty O joining him on stage to perform their collaboration Be My Girl. Unplugged has quietly built a reputation as a place where couples show up in numbers and, over the years, it has even been the birthplace of a few marriages.
With that kind of atmosphere, a record like Be My Girl fits the mood perfectly. After all, most of the crowd will likely be there with their partners, while the boys will be out on dates trying to impress the baddies.
Another moment fans would not complain about is Nutty O linking up with Voltz JT for a live performance of Makuruwani. It would be a fitting crossover moment between two artists who represent different corners of Zimbabwe’s urban sound.
Of course, these are just our two cents. Festival sets are tightly scheduled and surprises are never guaranteed. But if either of those moments happens, the crowd will remember it long after the final note fades.
