WHEN Ngoma NeHosho, the artist development and promotional company behind the Stanbic Bank Jacaranda Music Festival, unveiled the second edition of Carpe Diem on February 4, dance music fans across Harare erupted with excitement.
Set to take place on May 17, the 12-hour DJ extravaganza promises to be the largest DJ-driven event in the country.
“We will announce the venue, ticket price, and other details on Monday,” Carpe Diem event producer Walter Wanyanya told IndependentXtra.
Last year, the first edition was hosted at Old Hararians and featured a line-up of South African and Zimbabwean DJs, including Oscar Mbo, Ryan Synth, Prince Kaybee, Morda and Samuel Cosmic, among others.
“Carpe Diem is more than just a party — it’s a movement. Bringing together some of the finest DJs and performers, we are curating a day where music lovers can truly seize the moment and immerse themselves in an extraordinary audiovisual spectacle,” read part of a statement released this week.
“Expect top-tier production, state-of-the-art sound, and an electrifying crowd that will make this a night to remember.”
The first batch of headliners was announced last Thursday, boasting an impressive line-up of South African DJs Kelvin Momo and Afro-tech, as well as Afro-house DJ Thabang “Thakzin” Mathebula, the mastermind behind the popular 3-Step genre currently sweeping South Africa and the continent.
The line-up also features Bulawayo-based DJs Ash T and DJ Sfiso, alongside Tapiwa, a talented Afro-electronic music producer and DJ from the capital. On Monday, organisers revealed the second phase of artists, including South African Amapiano sensation and record producer Kabza De Small, as well as MadeHerBelieve, Jay, and Mimi Bouvier from Harare.
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“I feel really honoured to be part of the line-up. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, and I wasn’t expecting to be on it, actually. But I am happy that my work and our house community are getting recognition,” Mimi Bouvier shared during an interview.
“The local DJ-driven music experience has witnessed tremendous growth,” said the multi-talented creative.
“I think it has grown at an incredible pace in the last two to three years, especially in Harare, as it was already big in Bulawayo. It’s a genre that has gained a lot of recognition, and being part of the building blocks of it really feels special because we are able to build a healthy network and relationships amongst ourselves.”
Said Wanyanya: “This is going to be one of the biggest events on the entertainment calendar. We are creating an experience where people can lose themselves in the music and energy of the night. Carpe Diem is about living in the now, and we are bringing that to life in a way Harare has never seen before.”
The electrifying music experience was born out of the esteemed Stanbic Bank Jacaranda Music Festival. While the festival traditionally showcases live instruments, Carpe Diem breaks new ground by providing a premier platform exclusively for DJs.
This innovative event celebrates the artistry and talent of DJs, offering them a stage as grand as the festival itself.
