Kwela initiative returns with fresh hip-hop talent

FRESH off the heels of its impactful debut year, the Kwela Initiative has officially announced its Klass of 2026, selecting 14 new voices to carry forward the platform’s mission of amplifying Bulawayo youth culture through hip-hop.

The initiative, which burst onto the scene last year, launched with 16 of the city’s most dynamic artistes: 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.

**Hip-hop enthusiasts and artistes participating at the recently-held Kwela Initiative Workshop at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo**

The diverse cohort channelled their shared experiences into a 12-track album, Sound of the City, a project capturing the struggles, aspirations and resilience of the city’s youth.

Now, following an intensive week-long Kwela Initiative Workshop designed to hone skills and foster collaboration, the torch has been passed. The following artistes have been selected to form the Kwela Initiative Klass of 2026: Vidho MF, K-Sliq, Tunes Wilton, Floppy Flaws, Chriss JP, Rae Breed, CeeThree, Dylan Ap3x, T3rry Tempo, Blvck For3v3r, Mongameli, Rappid, Malwande and Majoroverthere.

In an interview, Asaph Afrika, one-half of the Kwela Initiative’s founding team, indicated that while the faces are new, the successful formula remains.

“This year, we’re keeping the same format as last year. We’ve done the workshop, next is the Rekording Kamp, then we culminate with the Showcase. We’re still building and without partners this year, it wouldn’t be wise to expand beyond our budget. We’ll stick to the norm,” he said.

This pragmatic approach ensures the core programme — the workshop, the intensive Rekording Kamp (recording camp), and the culminating Showcase event — delivers its proven value despite the current lack of external funding partners.

Asaph Afrika also stirred excitement by confirming the return of a Kwela Initiative favourite, the signature weekly 16-bar cyphers, which he said will start rolling out this week.

The Kwela Initiative has swiftly become a key incubator for Bulawayo’s hip-hop talent, offering selected artistes a platform to unpack personal and shared stories while sharpening their craft and shaping their long-term musical journeys. — @MbuleloMpofu