Online Reporter
Langelihle Dube, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
The Outstanding Arts Journalist (across platforms) category at this year’s Bulawayo Arts Awards is more than a shortlist; it reflects the storytellers who have shaped, protected, and elevated Bulawayo’s creative voice.
The nominees, Langalakhe Mabhena, Mbulelo Mpofu, and Mthabisi Tshuma from the Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, alongside ZBC’s Lisa Masuku-Kurira, showcase Bulawayo’s creative journey through their diverse storytelling styles and dedication to arts journalism.
Together, they represent a generation of writers who have transformed Bulawayo’s arts scene into an archive worth remembering.
Below are their individual profiles.
Langalakhe Mabhena, the cultural custodian. Known affectionately as Maroza, Mabhena has long been regarded as one of Bulawayo’s most intuitive arts reporters. His reporting style is deep, textured, and people-centred, often capturing not just the event, but the emotional and cultural heartbeat behind it.
He is drawn to heritage arts, traditional and gospel music, theatre, and creative mentorship, and he writes with the maturity of someone who has walked alongside the arts community for years.
His notable stories include the Imiklomelo kaDakamela Awards, the King Mzilikazi Day celebrations, and his in-depth exploration of Bulawayo Theatre’s revival of Ipi Ntombi — a piece praised for its cinematic narrative style. He has also carved a niche in profiling emerging traditional artistes, using his platform to spotlight grassroots creativity and amplify voices often absent from mainstream coverage.
A multiple-time BAA nominee and former winner, Maroza represents consistency and cultural loyalty, a journalist who doesn’t just cover the arts but lives within their ecosystem.
Mthabisi “Mthire” Tshuma — the voice of the under-served. Mthire’s path to journalism began with a university placement “mix-up” swapping Retail and Logistics for Media Studies, a twist of fate that uncovered a storyteller with a rare eye for overlooked talent. His writing style is youthful, energetic, and impact-driven, often championing artistes outside big stages and big cities.
Notable coverage includes rural talent elevation pieces, including profiles on young musicians from Gwanda, Filabusi, and Nkayi, where he highlights grassroots arts movements often overlooked by mainstream media. He is also passionate about human-interest arts stories, where he connects personal struggles of artistes, such as access issues and funding challenges, to broader national conversations, as well as entertainment industry analyses, including pieces that break down trends in the digital era.
To the industry, Mthire is the journalist who sees value where others overlook it, a storyteller focused on widening the circle of who gets seen and celebrated.
Mbulelo “eMKlass” Mpofu —the trend interpreter. Last year’s Outstanding Arts Journalist winner, Mbulelo, returns as a nominee with a body of work that reflects consistency, research-driven analysis, and a knack for capturing cultural shifts. His writing style is crisp, conversational, and often analytical, making him a favourite for readers seeking both information and interpretation.
He thrives on hip-hop, Afro-beats, urban culture, culinary events, and cross-border collaborations, translating entertainment trends into accessible narratives. Notable stories include extensive coverage of regional music icons weaving local relevance into a global context and his reporting on lifestyle events like Munch & Sip, which showcases his ability to merge arts, food, and entertainment culture.
Now also expanding into radio broadcasting, Mbulelo views himself as a bridge between artistes and the public, ensuring the best talent from Bulawayo is heard, seen, and understood.
“This year’s nomination is extra special; it can only mean one thing: consistency in my work. The arts sector thrives mainly on two things: a good product or service and a good story,” said Mbulelo.
Lisa Masuku-Kurira — the television trailblazer. For Lisa, this nomination marks a powerful milestone, her first. As the only woman in the category, she stands out for her role in bringing arts storytelling to the screen, a space where Bulawayo talent has often been overshadowed by mainstream programming.
Her style is visually driven, emotionally aware, and anchored in narrative clarity, reflecting her background in television production. She is passionate about arts visibility on TV, especially for young and female creatives.
Her nomination is a validation of years spent pushing for arts journalism in a medium where entertainment coverage is often limited.
“This is my first time being nominated for the BAAs. My passion for arts journalism began in 2020, when I realised that artistes in this region weren’t getting the exposure and recognition they deserved on television.
“This nomination is a powerful motivator for me to keep pushing and to continue giving artistes a platform to showcase their creativity and talent,” she said.
She sees the recognition as validation and a call to action. As the only woman in a category dominated by men, she holds her nomination with pride.
“It’s a reminder that women are increasingly claiming our place in storytelling spaces where we’ve historically been overlooked.”
Individually, Langalakhe, Mbulelo, Mthabisi, and Lisa each bring a unique voice and focus to their work. And while only one winner will be announced on awards night, the real victory is the stronger storytelling culture they have all helped build, one article, one interview, one breakthrough story at a time.
