By Sindiso Dube/ Sharon Sibindi
It’s been a year characterised by highs and lows in the arts fraternity in Bulawayo. Standard Style looks at some of the events and personalities that made the year 2019 tick.
Mbo Mahocs
After pushing hard in the showbiz industry locally Mbo Mahocs finally made what can be the biggest stride of her career so far after making it on South African soapie Scandal playing Chichi.
Gilmore Tee
Global citizen Gilmore “Tee” Moyo made it into this year’s list of the Forbes Africa list of 30 under 30, a list which includes Africa’s top entrepreneurs, entertainers and leaders and influencers.
The fifth annual Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list, released in a special issue of Forbes Africa for July this year, features 120 young African change-makers for the first time, increasing from 90 the previous year; with 30 finalists in each of the four categories — business, technology, creatives and sport.
The annual watch-list has become one of the highest-selling editions for Forbes Africa, showcasing Under 30s in the driving seat of Africa’s next big start-up, creative concept, or rising business venture.
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Tebogo Tebza Moyo
This new kid on the block of the year in the arts industry is a dynamite in a small package. A Form 2 student from Milton High Tebza real name Tebogo Moyo (14 ) has risen to be one of the most talked about artists in Bulawayo and some have even equated him to Mzambiya from across Limpopo.
He made his name after securing live acts at different shows, went on to win the outstanding Newcomer of the Year award at the third edition of the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards for his tracks Waz’khoth’ilihlo. The track did well on local radio stations Skyz Metro FM where it topped the charts. To put an icing on the cake, Tebza dropped his debut album Ntwana eneFlow with eight tracks, which he launched at a colourful ceremony at the National Arts Gallery in Bulawayo.
Butholezwe Nyathi and the Nastional Art Gallery KoBulawayo
Speaking of the Bulawayo Art Gallery on the statements above, the gallery this year turned out to be different — that’s what happens when leadership changes.
This year the gallery saw the coming in of Butholezwe Nyathi as the director, he brought in a breath of fresh air, without us taking anything away from Voti Thebe the previous director.
The gallery became a home for many events like Friday Late and others which failed to get platforms.
Sifiso and Sibusiso Ndlovu of Drum of Peace
The Drums of Peace pair, arrived on the entertainment scene with a bang.Their recent performance presented them with an opportunity to dine with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The siblings, trained under their father Lewis Ndlovu’s this year performed in Botswana at an event dubbed Lepokole Enduro 2019 where they enthralled guests drawn from South Africa, Nambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Brydan Heart
Upcoming Bulawayo filmmaker Braydan Heart (25) this year launched his reality show titled Being Braydan, which basically shows the lifestyle, fashion, events and spaces around the city of Bulawayo where he hangs out with his friends.
Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards
The third edition of the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards happened this year and like wine the ceremony is growing with age. Dubbed The Biggest Dress Up Event in Bulawayo, the awards have grown into becoming one of the biggest arts events on the country’s entertainment calendar.
Msizkay
The singer and rapper from Magwegwe suburb dropped his album Bayatshiselwa this year and it catapulted him into becoming one of the most talked about chanters in the city. His efforts saw him attracting the organisers of the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) who invited him to perform at the ceremony. Msizkay recently won the Best Alternative Musician at the Zim Hip-hop Awards.
Mlue Jay
The South Africa-based rapper worked hard this year becoming one of the most streamed artist on online platforms. He went on to be nominated in the best diaspora category at the Zim Hip-hop Awards.
Mimie Tarukwana
Her first efforts as a solo artist were exceptional. After having worked with the Outfit Band, Mimie went on to try to stand alone and gave us good tracks such as Selfish which caught the eye of Mr Eazie who later included her in his #Empower100 project.
