Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu in South Africa
ACCLAIMED Zimbabwean musician Bothwell “Gog’ Bekezela” Nkomo has appealed for financial support to enable him to attend and perform at the inaugural Global Creative Summit (GCS) set for November 13 to 15 in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
The celebrated “Bekezela”hitmaker is scheduled to represent Zimbabwe through his Gobela Arts Development Agency ensemble, but requires assistance to cover mobility and accommodation for his five-member delegation.
Running under the theme, “Visa to the World – Positioning Africa in the Global Creative Economy”, the summit is expected to bring together influential cultural leaders, industry executives and artistes from across the world to advance Africa’s presence in the global creative marketplace.
Gog’ Bekezela said attending the summit would not only elevate his career but also ensure Zimbabwean music and cultural expression are present in key continental conversations.
“We have an incredible opportunity to represent Zimbabwe at a major global platform. However, the costs for transporting and housing myself and my team in Johannesburg are quite significant. I am appealing to corporates, arts patrons and those who believe in the growth of Zimbabwean arts to assist us. This summit is about Africa speaking with one voice globally — Zimbabwe must be part of that voice,” he said.
Gog’ Bekezela’s passion for music and cultural expression was shaped by defining artistic encounters, including witnessing Ivorian singer Dobet Gnahoré’s performance at the Harare International Festival of the Arts years ago — a moment he describes as life-changing.
“She left the stage in smoke. That level of artistry made me commit to taking my music journey seriously,” he said.
That journey also saw him make the difficult decision to leave Bulawayo’s Amakhosi Theatre — and the mentorship of the late creative icon Cont Mhlanga — to pursue music in South Africa, where he hoped to learn from legends such as Ringo Madlingozi.
The Global Creative Summit, chaired by Mpumi Phillips, seeks to position African creatives at the centre of global industry development. At the launch, Phillips said the summit was: “A platform for equity, access and meaningful collaboration aimed at elevating creativity from soft power to economic power.”
Gog’ Bekezela will feature under the Music pillar in a session titled “Music as Africa’s Global Export: Development & Sustainability” alongside influential figures including Zeus Omega (South Africa), Rex Omar (Ghana), Commissioner Gordon (US), and Ch’cco, with Grammy-winning manager Tholsi Pillay and CISAC’s Samuel Sangwa (Rwanda) contributing to discussions on sustainability, data and artistic growth.
For the musician, securing support means ensuring Zimbabwe’s cultural excellence is seen, heard and represented.
Support for Gog’ Bekezela can be extended through direct contact with the Gobela Arts Development Agency.— Follow on X: @MbuleloMpofu
