South African deep house legends Liquideep return to Zimbabwe after 11 year split

By Patience Nyagato

South African deep house duo Liquideep are heading back to Zimbabwe this weekend, marking their first performance in the country since reuniting earlier this year.

The award winning pair Ziyon and Ryzor went their separate ways in 2013 after nearly a decade of dominating the African house music scene. At the time they were at the peak of their career, having won multiple South African Music Awards and produced hits like Fairytale and Still.

The split caught fans off guard. Both artists pursued solo projects, with Ziyon focusing on production work and Ryzor releasing music under his own name. Neither publicly explained the breakup in detail, but industry insiders suggested creative differences and the pressures of constant touring had taken their toll.

Fast forward to September 2025. The duo shocked the music world by announcing their reunion on social media. The post was simple, a photo of them together in the studio with the caption ‘Were back’. Comments flooded in from across Africa.

Now they are bringing that reunion to Zimbabwe. Event organiser Danis Dube, Unplugged Zimbabwe media liaison, said Unplugged has returned and they could not think of a better way to announce its return than with another iconic name, the iconic duo Liquideep, who also announced their return late in 2025.

He confirmed that Liquideep will be performing at Unplugged on the 21st of December 2025 at First Capital Bank Sports Club in Harare, adding that organisers are excited for Zimbabwean audiences to experience the duo live.

This matters for Zimbabwean house music fans. Liquideep last performed in the country in 2012 during their original run. Back then they packed venues and their smooth soulful sound influenced a generation of local producers. Their absence left a gap in the regional house music circuit.

The show set for Sunday features a strong local lineup too. Saintfloew, Silent Nqo, Delroy Shewe and Melyssa are all confirmed to perform.

For context Liquideep formed in 2004 and quickly became one of the most recognisable names in South African deep house. Their debut album ‘Fabrics of the Heart’ went gold. They followed it up with several successful releases and became regulars at major festivals across the continent.

Their sound blended deep house with jazz and soul influences. It was sophisticated but still made people dance. That combination made them stand out in a crowded market.

The 2013 split seemed permanent. Both Ziyon and Ryzor built separate careers and rarely spoke about each other in interviews. When asked about a possible reunion they typically gave vague answers.

What changed?. Neither has said much publicly. Their September announcement mentioned ‘rediscovering the magic’ and ‘unfinished business’. A few interviews since then suggest they simply missed working together and felt the timing was right.

Sunday’s performance will test whether that magic is still there. Tickets are available through Hype Nation platforms and early reports suggest strong sales.

For Zimbabwean fans who have waited over a decade this weekend offers something rare, a chance to see a legendary act that many thought was done for good.