Online Reporter
Langelihle Dube [email protected]
Musician Bhila is set to return to the one-man show format with a renewed focus, drawing on lessons from his first solo concert and performances on bigger stages.
Since staging his debut one-man show, Bhila has broadened his performance experience, appearing on the Sylent Nqo Country Tour and travelling to South Africa, where he opened for Phila Dlozi during the Ikhandlela Tour.
The experiences, he says, have equipped him with a better understanding of what it takes to carry an entire live performance.
“This time, we’re here to correct what we did wrong. We’ve learnt so much and performed at much bigger events. We understand the pressure, the risk and what people expect,” Bhila said.
His first solo show also offered an important lesson about the relationship between local musicians and their audiences.
“The last show taught me that people are ready to support,” he said.
However, Bhila believes the biggest hurdle facing many Bulawayo artistes is not necessarily a lack of support, but limited visibility.
“The only challenge is that they do not know about us. Hence, as local artists, we need to be out there and invest more to increase our visibility,” he said.
His recent performances outside Bulawayo have reinforced that view, exposing his music to new audiences and giving him an opportunity to test his stagecraft beyond his usual environment.
Bhila says the response has been encouraging, with audiences repeatedly expressing interest in seeing him perform a full live set.
“We’re simply giving people what they asked for. We’ve performed at the Sylent Nqo Country Tour, opened for Phila Dlozi during the Ikhandlela Tour in South Africa and the reviews have always been the same. People wish to see the whole of Bhila Live on stage.”
That response has motivated him to continue developing the one-man show with an event slated for October 2, rather than treating his first concert as a once-off event.
“It was crucial for me to bring back this solo show for consistency. There is no need to stop something that works,” he said.
The upcoming show comes at a time when he has gained greater exposure and experience, while developing a clearer understanding of the demands of performing an entire concert on his own. He hopes to draw 1 000 people to the show, a target that would represent more than just a strong turnout. For Bhila, it would be a sign that audiences are increasingly willing to embrace local musicians and that his own musical journey is reaching new ground.
