Staff Writer
Harare Open Mic returns this year, stronger, with Moto Republik pledging continued support for the event throughout 2026.
The first edition for the year dubbed The Art of Collaboration will be held on Saturday the 28th of February at Moto Republik, 2-5p.m.
This edition is encouraging artists to experiment with the magic of collaboration among themselves as musicians, poets, dancers, theater makers etc; to think beyond the individual and start building networks that can allow their art to become richer, more nuanced and diverse.
”To demonstrate this we are honoured to have Mary Anibal and Othnell “Mangoma” Moyo performing on the day. The two are ever-experimenting, well-travelled award winning musicians who recently proved their mettle with their recent show, “Village to Town Back to The Village held at Alliance Francaise de Harare on the 6th of February.” said the organiser, Batsirai Chigama.
Mary Anibal, Guest Performing Artist
Mary Anibal is a Zimbabwean award-winning singer, songwriter, mbira player, activist, and music educator who has been inspiring audiences with her unique blend of folk and traditional music that reflects the rich cultural heritage of Africa, particularly Zimbabwe. With a growing reputation as a leading voice in Afro-fusion music, Mary captivates audiences with her powerful voice, masterful mbira playing, and infectious energy.
As a passionate advocate for women’s rights, Mary uses her platform to promote social justice and empower women through her music and activism. Her commitment to creating positive change is reflected in her work, inspiring a new generation of young women to pursue their dreams and stand up for their rights.
Mary’s professional journey began in 2016 when she started working as a session musician, playing the mbira for various artists. However, it was her performance at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) in 2017 alongside Soa Roy from Madagascar and Forest Jam that marked a significant turning point in her career. This experience not only showcased her talent to a wider audience but also solidified her position as a rising star in the Zimbabwean music scene.
In 2023, Mary won the prestigious Zimbabwe Music Award for Best Traditional (Chinyakare/Chimurenga), a milestone that recognized her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft. Her international breakthrough came in August 2023 when she headlined the Habari Africa festival in Toronto, Canada, marking a pivotal moment in her career and introducing her music to a broader global audience.
Since then, Mary has gone on to perform at other prestigious festivals, including the Sauti Za Busara Festival in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and the Masa Festival in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. In 2025, she headlined the Festival Abidjan Capital Du Jazz in Côte d’Ivoire, further cementing her reputation as a leading figure in Afro-fusion music.
In September 2024, Mary released her debut album “Maria Wenyu,” a landmark moment in her Afro-fusion journey. The album is a testament to her dedication to her craft and her commitment to promoting African culture through music. Building on the momentum of her album, Mary released a new single titled “Bhonzo” in April 2025, showcasing her continued creativity and artistry.
She has also toured Germany and Switzerland, takinng her unique sound to new audiences and sharing the richness of Zimbabwean music and culture with the world. With her passion, talent, and dedication, Mary Anibal continues to inspire and captivate audiences globally, solidifying her position as one of the most exciting and innovative artists to emerge from Zimbabwe in recent years.
Othnell Mangoma Moyo, Guest Performing Artist
Othnell “Mangoma” Moyo is a Zimbabwean performing artist, instrument builder, ethnomusicological researcher, cultural preservation activist and international cultural ambassador whose multifaceted work champions the vitality of indigenous African music and arts. Widely known simply as Mangoma, meaning “the one with the drums” .
He grew up immersed in musical traditions in the Nguboyenja township of Makokoba, Bulawayo, where early exposure to mbira, marimba and percussion set the stage for a lifelong devotion to music, dance, storytelling and cultural memory.
Othnell Mangoma Moyo trained as a traditional dancer, actor and musician, Mangoma has developed deep knowledge of Zimbabwe’s diverse musical styles and instruments, alongside contemporary global forms.
He is a highly skilled multi-instrumentalist capable of mastering lamellophones, membranophones, chordophones and aerophones, and is celebrated for crafting the majority of the instruments he performs on, including mbira, ngoma (various drums), marimba, ngororombe (panpipes) and many others rooted in Zimbabwean and African heritage.
As founder and director of the Ngoma iNgungu Cultural Arts Center in Domboshava, Zimbabwe, Mangoma has created a vibrant incubator where artists, researchers and young creatives can gather, learn, rehearse, perform, build instruments and participate in intergenerational mentorship.
The center also hosts residencies, exhibitions and cultural events, aiming to preserve ancestral artforms and cultivate new generations of cultural custodians.
Mangoma works with an ensemble; Music According to Percussion (MAP) foregrounds percussion as the core of musical expression, blending traditional rhythms with contemporary influences.
He has also developed acclaimed solo performances that explore ancient Zimbabwean sounds and spirituality through handcrafted instruments.
Internationally recognised, Mangoma has represented Zimbabwe across more than 30 countries in hundreds of venues and festivals, collaborating with artists from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, and participating in programs such as the OneBeat (USA) cultural exchange.
Beyond performance, he engages in community growth projects, teaching music and dance in diverse settings, including prisons and township festivals, while continuously advocating for cultural education, preservation and the transformative power of the arts.
Thirty diverse and powerful voices will take to the stage including Tadana Nakai, Praymore Kugara, Taku Goniwa, Hector Mugani, Matala Manda, Thuthukani Ndlovu, Heartly, Tirivashe Chuma, D-blok Keislim among many other new voices gracing the open Mic for the first time.
Plans are underway for Harare Open Mic to host two workshops for interested participants during the year. The workshops will touch on the business of art and how they can take an idea to the stage. The workshops are meant to assist the artists with general knowledge of how the arts industry operates as well as how to build on their ideas and bring them to life as they grow towards becoming more professional and business minded.
“As usual we are promising good vibes in a relaxed environment with lots of varied entertainment.”
GoodToGoCatering and Life Photography partner with Harare Open Mic in this edition providing catering services for attendees and photography for the participants, respectively.
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