Bulawayo rappers unite for Kwela Recording Kamp compilation album

LAST month, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) in Bulawayo became a vibrant hub for creativity as local hip-hop talent converged for the five-day Kwela Initiative workshop. Aiming to elevate the voices of the city’s artistes, the initiative’s bigger picture is set to culminate in a compilation album and a concert that showcases Bulawayo’s immense hip-hop talent.

Building on the momentum from the workshop, organisers announced the launch of the “Kwela Rekording Kamp”, a transformative three-day recording camp starting on Friday and running through to Sunday.

This exceptional event will bring together selected artistes who participated in the workshop to create music inspired by the powerful themes explored during the “Conflict Transformation: Hip Hop vs Community” Indaba.

Hip hop artistes attending a Kwela Initiative Workshop at the NGZ in Bulawayo last month.

Among the talented rappers taking part are local heavyweights: Swazy, Stones Moyo, Fuel The Don, Curtis Dee Rovar, Nsizwa Black, TBK, Farai, Ghawdzilla, Israel, CMK, Mike the Future, Salem Bhebhe, KidThrill, Philo Cliff, Canvus Ports, and Rayzon. These artistes will gather at a private venue to record tracks that encapsulate the discussions and insights gathered at the workshop.

The Kwela Initiative Workshop aimed to tackle the long-standing challenges faced by hip-hop talent in Bulawayo, such as a lack of support and recognition. It fostered dialogue among stakeholders, media, businesspeople, and creatives, paving the way for a stronger, united hip-hop community.

Asaph Afrika, one of the organisers behind the Kwela Initiative, shared with Chronicle Showbiz the importance of the Rekording Kamp.
“Following the success of the Kwela Initiative Workshop, we want to ensure that our discussions have a tangible outcome. The Kwela Rekording Kamp serves not only as a continuation of our work but as a platform for artistic expression that directly reflects the experiences and challenges within our communities.”

He said this initiative focuses on transformation, reiterating that hip-hop can be a powerful tool for social change.
“We wanted to take this further and produce work that embodies the ideas and concepts discussed. Our aim is to ensure that the music we create meets industry standards and resonates with the community, free from hate speech and obscene lyrics.