Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
FOR years, musicians from Matabeleland South have produced quality music, performed on local stages and built loyal followings in their communities. Yet many have struggled to break into the mainstream or gain recognition on major digital platforms.
Now, one young artiste is changing that narrative.
Afro Pop and Amapiano musician Hloniphani Tshuma, popularly known by his stage name Brighton Golide, has achieved a milestone that many aspiring artistes can only dream of. His hit song Wakhetha Mina has surpassed 100 000 streams on Spotify, making him the first artiste from Matabeleland South Province to reach the landmark.
The achievement is more than a personal victory. For Brighton Golide, it is evidence that talent from Matabeleland South can compete on regional and international platforms despite the challenges local musicians often face.
The success of Wakhetha Mina, which has gained significant traction on Spotify and social media platforms such as TikTok, has thrust the artiste into the spotlight and opened new possibilities for his career.
Originally from Filabusi and raised in Gwanda, Brighton Golide is now based in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he is pursuing his music career while remaining deeply connected to his roots in Matabeleland South.
Although the music industry is highly competitive, he says his journey has always been driven by a desire to create music that resonates with people and speaks to everyday experiences.
For him, music goes beyond entertainment.
It is a platform for healing, inspiration and hope.
“I started doing music in 2021 with inspiration from Oskid; his resilience and passion for the art pushed me, and how he succeeded in a foreign land gave me the zeal to try out,” said Brighton Golide.
Inspired by the success of fellow musicians, he took a chance on himself and began recording his own songs.
What started as an experiment has gradually developed into a serious music career.
Brighton Golide says he wants his music to connect with people who are facing challenges in their lives and offer them comfort through meaningful lyrics and melodies.
He believes music has the power to unite people, mend broken hearts and provide relief from life’s pressures.
His growing popularity suggests that listeners are responding positively to that message.
The breakthrough success of Wakhetha Mina has become a defining moment in his career.
The song, which blends Afro Pop influences with the infectious rhythms of Amapiano and 3-Step music, has found an audience across Southern Africa.
“I am happy with how the 3-step song Wakhetha Mina featuring African Yard producers from Botswana has now over 100k streams on Spotify and is trending on TikTok; the sound has been used by so many South African influencers,” he said.
The track’s popularity has been fuelled by social media users and content creators who have incorporated the song into dance videos, relationship posts and lifestyle content.
Its success has introduced Brighton Golide’s music to audiences far beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
The achievement is even more impressive considering that the artiste is still relatively new to the music scene.
Since launching his career in 2021, Brighton Golide has consistently released music and steadily built his catalogue.
To date, he has released nine songs. Last year alone, he released UThando, Emanonini, Ngivulelen’ and Nguwe Lo.
This year he followed up with Wakhetha Mina , Mina Nawe, Olla G D A, Uyinkanyezi and Ntombie.
The consistent releases have helped him build a growing audience stretching across Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.
His listeners can now be found in cities such as Bulawayo, Gwanda, Gaborone, Durban and Johannesburg.
Despite his growing success online, Brighton Golide says the journey has not been without obstacles.
Like many artistes from outside Zimbabwe’s major urban centres, he believes gaining exposure through traditional media remains a significant challenge.
While his music continues to generate impressive streaming figures, he says radio airplay has been difficult to secure.
“I have been struggling to get radio plays while the music is trending; my dream is to take the Matabeleland music industry to another level so that even the coming generation and other musicians in Matabeleland South will be known and played on radio stations,” he said.
The musician believes the problem extends beyond his own career.
He argues that Matabeleland is full of talented artistes whose work deserves wider recognition.
According to Brighton Golide, many gifted musicians remain unknown simply because they lack access to major platforms and opportunities available elsewhere.
“I want to show that in Matabeleland we are also big in the music industry; there are so many musicians I know in
Matabeleland that have talent, but they’re struggling. I want to change that,” he declared.
For Brighton Golide, success is not just about building his own profile.
He hopes his achievements will inspire other young artistes from towns such as Filabusi, Gwanda, Plumtree and
Beitbridge to believe that they too can reach global audiences.
His music draws from both Afro Pop and Amapiano, two genres that continue to dominate playlists across Southern Africa.
By combining smooth melodies with energetic beats, he has created a sound that appeals to young listeners both at home and in the diaspora.
Collaboration has also played an important role in his growth.
He regularly works with producers and creatives from different countries, including Botswana-based producers
African Yard, who collaborated with him on Wakhetha Mina .
The partnership helped the song gain a cross-border appeal that has contributed significantly to its success.
As his audience continues to grow, Brighton Golide says he is most encouraged by the impact his music is having on ordinary people.
Beyond the streaming numbers, he values messages from listeners who say his songs have helped them through
difficult periods in their lives.
He is also inspired by young aspiring musicians in Gwanda and other parts of Matabeleland South who see his success as proof that dreams can become reality.
“I want my music to be a bridge between pain and hope, between rural roots and global platforms, and between Matabeleland South and the rest of the continent,” he said.
With momentum building behind his career, Brighton Golide is now looking ahead to even bigger goals.
“Looking ahead, I have set my sights on competing for a Song of the Year award this year, and I am using the momentum of Wakhetha Mina to plan new visuals, collaborations and a body of work that will define my debut album.
“My dream is to see the music industry on a top level, and I will continue to soldier on until Mat South is represented where it belongs.”
As he prepares for the next chapter of his career, Brighton Golide’s achievement stands as a landmark moment for Matabeleland South’s music industry.
For a young man who grew up in Filabusi and was raised in Gwanda, surpassing 100 000 Spotify streams is not just a personal accomplishment. It is a statement that talent from smaller communities can reach the world.
And if the success of Wakhetha Mina is anything to go by, Brighton Golide may just be getting started.
