Online Reporter
Bruce Ndlovu in BULAWAYO
THE streets of Bulawayo were left smelling of burnt rubber as a convoy transporting Babongile Sikhonjwa, the self-proclaimed ‘Ndebele Rockstar,’ brought traffic to a standstill en route to a high-octane memorial service.
This was a send-off befitting a character whose infectious energy defined life in the city for over two decades.
Renowned car spinners, businesspeople, politicians and ordinary citizens all converged in the City of Kings to bid farewell to a larger-than-life figure. His influence was so weighty that in his departure, the city itself was saying goodbye to one of its own. The day’s proceedings began at his family home in Richmond, where loved ones offered prayers and songs, giving their final private farewells.
From that moment, he was no longer just Babongile Sikhonjwa — but assumed his moniker the ‘Ndebele Rock Star,’ a man who meant different things to different people.
To his family, his body had returned for a prayerful send-off. To his friends and fans, it was time to celebrate and honour a man who seemed to tower above all others.
Hundreds of people give comedian and DJ Babongile Sikhonjwa a massive send-off at Amphitheatre in Bulawayo yesterday.
The route of his final journey was symbolic. A large convoy made its way from Richmond to the city centre, tracing the path of a man who had stamped his cultural legacy across the city.
At Barbourfields Stadium, the home of Highlanders Football Club, fans broke into song and praise, remembering a man whose soul was forever intertwined with the black and white of Bosso.
At the Brethren In Christ Church headquarters in the city centre, wheel spinners burned rubber in the streets while family and friends offered their final prayers inside.
To his inner family, he was a family man, the son of a devout Christian who had attended Sunday school since childhood. Yet to outsiders, he was an adrenaline junkie, a man who lived life in the fast lane — and would have loved the speed on display. The tragedy, of course, was that he was no longer there to appreciate either.
In true Sikhonjwa style, he arrived like a king at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre. His cowhide-draped coffin was a sight to behold. Even in death, he stood apart. He was met by a crowd of hundreds, solemn and silent, gathered to bid him farewell. The mood was sombre, with glum faces—some on the verge of tears.
But, in typical Sikhonjwa fashion, it wasn’t long before his presence lifted the atmosphere. Guests began to crack jokes, reflecting on the life of a man who always found the lighter side of life. “Everyone has a Sikhonjwa story,” they said.
Each speaker offered a glimpse into the man they knew: the naughty boy who started kissing girls in Grade 2 at Baines, the businessman who could unlock any door, the Soul Brothers fan who worshipped Bosso, and the father whose son defined his life. Every attempt to paint a complete picture of his life fell short. He was not a man to be captured with broad strokes.
Ms Nanji Taswa Banda and Babongile Sikhonjwa’s son Qobolwakhe Sikhonjwa (right) at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre yesterday.
Each speaker held a small paintbrush, adding their own detail to the portrait of a socialite whose existence gave true meaning to the word.
Farewells to Sikhonjwa were deeply reflective of the community spirit he carried with him until his final breath. At the funeral service, a close friend who had been by his side during his last moments revealed that doctors had found, in his autopsy, that his heart had enlarged — medically indicating it had been overworking.
One of his arteries had ruptured and flooded one of the sacs surrounding his heart. A man with a big heart — that’s how many chose to remember him. Poet Desire Moyo, known to many as Moyoxide, penned a heartfelt poem for the late entertainer, describing him as a rockstar who made everyone feel at home—a fitting tribute to a man whose presence lit up every room.
Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube and Mayor David Coltart then offered words of comfort to the bereaved family.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of International Communication, Mr Richard Mahomva, also poured out his heart, expressing the Government’s deep sadness on the passing on of Sikhonjwa. He described him as a distinguished Zimbabwean media sector icon and a world-class director of ceremonies to ever come out of the country.
“He was just more than a Bulawayo arts giant, nor was he Zimbabwe’s finest. He was a world star who walked among us,” said Mr Mangwana. “Through arts, Sikhonjwa was a unifier whose work made all Zimbabweans love each other beyond party lines. We are sad that Babongile’s demise follows the loss of other great creative sector pathfinders of the region, namely: Conti Mhlanga and most recently Pathisa Nyathi.”
Mr Mangwana said the late Sikhonjwa’s role as a broadcaster at Skies Metro and Star FM will never be forgotten, paying tribute to his pioneering role in mainstreaming comedy in Bulawayo and priming the city as a citadel of the comedy industry. “We will miss his humour during State occasions. We will miss how he made us laugh every time he did his work.
His role in arts governance will be remembered forever,” said Mr Mangwana.
Among his many contributions, Mr Mangwana said Sikhonjwa supported the ministry’s annual ZITF Media Indaba as a key pillar.
“I know his passion for issues of this region and his support for Highlanders Football Club make him a hero of this city. As we celebrate his life, let us not forget to be the good person that Babongile was to all of us,” he said.
