Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]
FROM the sun-drenched shores of Goa in Western India to the artistic, creative streets of Bulawayo, flows an unlikely but powerful current of musical fusion and human connection.
At the centre of this cultural tide is Varun Carvalho, co-founder of the innovative musical duo RiseNation, whose heart, by his own admission, has been irreversibly captured by Zimbabwe — and most notably by Bulawayo, the nation’s cultural nerve centre.
Driven by a mission to spread love, uplift communities, and honour the echoes of ancestry, Carvalho is weaving together a vibrant tapestry of collaboration that reaches beyond mere performance. His journey now encompasses ambitious plans for a community centre and a pioneering reggae festival set to take place right here in the City of Kings.
Carvalho’s relationship with Bulawayo began in earnest three years ago when RiseNation — the dynamic partnership of Carvalho and guitarist/producer Froebel “Dubfroe” Rebello — arrived for the “Play to Unite” concert at the Academy of Music. More than a musical showcase, the event embodied their philosophy: using music as a tool for connection, empowerment, and meaningful social change.
Their introduction of “Reggae Goa” — a singular blend of Caribbean beats infused with Konkani undertones and Indian instrumentation — struck a chord with the Bulawayo audience.
But the most potent symbol of this cultural bridge was born during that visit: the song Makanaka. Its title is a linguistic fusion, joining the Konkani word for “good” or “beautiful” with its ChiShona equivalent. The track, recorded and released by RiseNation, goes far beyond melody — it stands as an ode to shared beauty, an emblem of harmony between two distant worlds united by rhythm and spirit.
“Makanaka was born from that feeling of connection. It was about recognising the beauty in Bulawayo, in its people, in its music, and finding a way to express that unity through our sound. It felt natural, like languages meeting on common ground,” Carvalho reflected.
The “Play to Unite” concert was not merely a platform for a new genre; it carried a deeply practical purpose. Its proceeds were dedicated to a cause close to Carvalho’s heart: funding an artistic community centre in Bulawayo.
Envisioned as far more than a physical structure, the centre is designed to be a “creative haven,” a vital safe space to combat the scourge of drug and substance abuse that threatens Bulawayo’s youth.
Centred on acquiring musical instruments for the facility, the “Play to Unite” initiative has evolved from a Goan project into a global movement. Carvalho and Rebello travel widely, hosting cultural exchange concerts and directing the proceeds to Bulawayo.
The centre aims to become a sanctuary where young people can explore creativity, learn artistic skills, find mentorship, and fortify themselves against societal pressures — nurturing productivity, hope, and purpose.
RiseNation’s mission is not a solitary one. Their 2023 visit to Zimbabwe was marked by vibrant collaborations that stitched them into the rich artistic fabric of Bulawayo.
They worked alongside some of Zimbabwe’s brightest talents: the iconic Victor Kunonga, the soulful Simz Masuku, Reilo Viekk, Keylar Justin, MTK, Michelle, and Kimoe.
These weren’t fleeting encounters, but seeds planted for long-term creative growth.
And those seeds continue to sprout. Recently, Carvalho sparked excitement when he hinted at a potential studio collaboration with Ngadlangadla, one-half of the acclaimed hip-hop duo Killemol. Their connection was instant when they met during Carvalho’s last visit.
“I have a lot of plans here in Africa, and one of those is collaborating with Bulawayo artistes. This will be an extension of mine, having collaborated with Victor Kunonga in Harare. Ngadlangadla is someone I’ve admired, having heard a few of his songs.
He has a cultural vibe about him and I like that. I think hip-hop and Reggae Goa can sync perfectly,” he shared.
Ngadlangadla reciprocated the interest, having developed a fondness for Carvalho’s distinctive “Reggae Goa” sound.
“I can’t rule out a collaboration on a Reggae Goa-Hip hop tip because part of my vision is diversifying my portfolio and this collaboration fits the bill,” he said. The potential track, tentatively titled Sharp Sharp, is slated for recording next month when Carvalho returns to Zimbabwe after a festival performance in Goa.
Carvalho’s admiration for Zimbabwean music is deep and sincere. He speaks about it with palpable reverence, describing it as “really good” and declaring Zimbabwean musicians to be “truly next level.”
“That’s why I was in Harare lately working with the guys and I want to channel that to Bulawayo artistes as well. We are going to take the riddim to the world,” he said.
This is not empty praise, but the engine driving his collaborations, rooted in his belief that Zimbabwe’s musical brilliance — when fused with RiseNation’s Goan reggae flavour — holds global potential.
Yet beneath the music and the projects lies something far deeper: a spiritual pull.
He shared a belief he holds close: “I believe that my ancestors came from Africa and I’ll come to honour their spirit.”
This sense of returning home, of honouring lineage, gives his efforts in Zimbabwe a profound emotional centre. His work becomes a pilgrimage, not just a project.
Carvalho’s plans for Bulawayo are expansive and intertwined. His immediate priority is the community centre — turning the “Play to Unite” vision into bricks, instruments, programmes, and a safe haven for young people. But running parallel to this is an equally bold ambition: establishing a major reggae festival in Bulawayo.
He imagines a festival where the energetic pulse of Reggae Goa blends effortlessly with Zimbabwe’s Sungura, Afro-Jazz, Hip Hop, and traditional rhythms.
A festival that showcases the collaborations he has cultivated — from Kunonga to Ngadlangadla and many others — alongside potential international acts who might be drawn to this cultural crossroads. Such a festival would be more than entertainment.
It would be a celebration of unity, a global spotlight on Bulawayo’s creative potential, and a powerful fundraising vehicle to sustain the community centre long into the future.
The Goan musician with the Konkani accent and the reggae heartbeat has developed a profound affection for Bulawayo. But this is no passive love.
It is active, lived, and expressed in cross-continental anthems like Makanaka, in the creation of a youth sanctuary, in a growing network of artistic collaborations, and in the ambitious dream of a reggae festival that unites worlds.
Having released We Going Higher featuring Chirandu in 2024 and Everything is Alright, a collaboration with Victor Kunonga last year, Carvalho’s body of work continues to affirm one belief: that music transcends borders, heals communities, and honours the past while lighting the path to a more hopeful future. —@MbuleloMpofu
