Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment
FRESH off the acclaimed success of their debut compilation, “Sound of the City,” at the Bulawayo Theatre, the Kwela Initiative is casting its net for the next wave of Bulawayo’s hip-hop talent. The organisation has issued an open call for rappers, vocalists, and producers aged 18 to 25 to join an intensive 5-day Artist Development Programme, culminating in the creation of a collaborative album and a high-profile showcase performance.
This exciting opportunity targets young, driven creatives based in the City of Kings. Selected participants will first immerse themselves in a comprehensive development workshop designed to hone their artistic and professional skills. Following this intensive training, the cohort will collaborate directly in the studio to craft original music for a new Kwela Initiative album. The journey will culminate in a live performance where the artists will debut their collaborative work at a dedicated album showcase event.
The call comes with significant momentum. Last year, the Kwela Initiative launched, “Sound of the City,” a landmark album hailed as a flagship achievement. This 12-track project was the direct result of the pioneering Kwela Rekording Kamp, a three-day intensive recording program held earlier in 2025. That camp itself built upon critical dialogues initiated by the “Hip-Hop vs the Community” Indaba and the foundational Kwela Initiative Workshop. These forums deeply explored hip-hop’s potent capacity for conflict transformation and driving positive social change within communities.
Sixteen of Bulawayo’s most dynamic emerging voices – including 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 RyZoN – were chosen to translate the Indaba’s powerful themes into music during the Rekording Kamp. “Sound of the City” stands as a resonant testament to the struggles, aspirations, and resilience of the city’s youth. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
