exeunt!: Sihlangu Dlodlo’s last act on the stage of life

SIHLANGU Dlodlo was renowned for his comic and often dramatic flair throughout his 60 years. And just before he was called to the Lord, he gave the world yet more drama. With his greatest gift being theatre, theatrics followed him right up to the final curtain call.

When news broke that the Bulawayo arts doyen and Highlanders CEO Dlodlo’s lifeless body was discovered at his Nketa 9 residence on Monday evening, it sent waves of despair through the community. But more dramatic was his Facebook post that now reads like a premonition of his own impending death.

As a renowned storyteller and theatre guru, he seemingly foretold one last story before he departed the stage. In a post dated October 16 at 08:48 am, Dlodlo wrote:

“One nice way yokuqeda i drama lobumbulu bemfeni (to avoid drama at a funeral) is to die endlini uwedwa nje (at home alone) . . . just rot for a week or so. Omakhelwane babone ngempukane eziyi green ewindini (neighbours will just see flies around) and not know how to contact izihlobo zakho (your relatives).

“Amapholisa abuthe ama remains ngebhokisi lensimbi (the police will collect your remains in a metal box) and take you, hopefully, to Kings and Queens. That way akula za body viewing (there will be no body viewing). Straight to Luveve Cemetery. By the way, lingabuyi lama flawuzi (don’t bring flowers) bo sugar.”

Ironically, Dlodlo, the creative theatre guru, mentioned Kings and Queens Funeral Services in his post, a company he served as general manager from November last year until his appointment as CEO of Highlanders. He had also been a sales and marketing executive at the company.

The celebrated guru was a brain par excellence; he was never ordinary. He was a man of drama and theatre among many other things, and he left the stage in the same way he entered it — as he ascended to the heavens. Dlodlo was many things to many people. His words and actions were worth more than a million words or that one special picture that you believe speaks a thousand words.

He was a man who always had something positive (mostly in a comic way) to say to whoever he interacted with, young or old. A jovial man with a permanent beaming smile, Dlodlo was worshipped not only in the arts or sporting fraternity but everywhere he went. In whatever stage he performed on, he served diligently.

Bulawayo and Zimbabwe at large will remember him for his work at Amakhosi alongside the great Cont Mhlanga, Raisedon Baya, Memory Kumbota, and many other talents. For all intents and drama, Dlodlo was near perfect. But, perfect he wasn’t.

Dlodlo also worked at Innscor Africa as a sales marketing manager and was praised for many breakthrough strategies that led to Amakhosi’s emergence as a powerhouse on the arts scene in the 90s. Rightfully so, he will be laid to rest at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo today.

A funeral service will be held at Bulawayo Amphitheatre this morning so that everyone has the opportunity to say their final goodbyes.

With all the drama surrounding him, Dlodlo inspired many upcoming talents, be it in arts, sport, or business, with the art of selflessness, honesty, hard work, and unwavering commitment to one’s passion.

He will be dearly missed by those who had him as a mentor in their lives.— @brandon_malvin