Magamba Network

Magamba means ‘Heroes’ or ‘Freedom Fighters’. It all started when two young Zimbabweans, Comrade Fatso & Outspoken, met at a poetry slam and battled each other – with words. They battled other poets until it was the final round and they were pitted against each other. After some fierce throwing down of poems they tied and had to share the prize which was a quarter chicken and chips and a poetry book. Comrade Fatso was hungry so he ate the chicken. Outspoken was hunrgy for knowledge so he took the book. They realised then that they could work together and shared a vision of how creative activism could inspire young people to be part of changing our country. And so Magamba was born. Starting off as a part-time thing that Comrade Fatso & Outspoken ran from the sitting room of their flat in the Avenues – close to the Harare city centre – Magamba Network has grown into Zimbabwe’s leading creative organisation and one of the country’s trailblazers in digital media and youth engagement. Magamba was born at a time of hyperinflation, disillusionment and political oppression. The network emerged in 2007 and was all about inspiring young people to be part of the change our country desperately needs. And we decided to do that using fun, creative tools that speak to young people in a language they understand: from hip hop to satire, from social media to innovation. Our belief is in a Zimbabwe with participatory democracy, strong alternative media, a sustainable environment and a thriving creative economy. We believe in being the change we want to create so we’re about being horizontal and participatory. We’re about social justice. And we’re about having fun while we do it! Today Magamba Network is Zimbabwe’s leading creative organization and we work on the cutting edge of arts, digital media, activism and innovation. Magamba’s award-winning initiatives include Shoko Festival, Zimbabwe’s longest-running festival of urban culture; Moto Republik, Zimbabwe’s first creative hub;