Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, [email protected]
THE second edition of the Makokoba Music Festival has strengthened its position as an important platform for Bulawayo’s music, culture and community, bringing hundreds of music lovers to the city’s oldest township for two days of free entertainment and cultural expression.
Held on September 18 and 19, the festival, founded by Winya Sounds, transformed Makokoba into a lively hub of music and community activity, with the main stage running from the afternoon into the late evening.
The programme featured a broad mix of Rhumba, Tshibilika, Zim Dancehall, Afro-Jazz and Zim Hip Hop, giving local artistes an opportunity to perform before an engaged and appreciative home audience.
Among the artistes who performed were award-winning Afro-pop musician Bhila, Hwabaraty, Butholezwe Ntini, Lights WakoBulawayo, Mzolisi Mr Bones, Umfana kaJeroti and Sipopoma Sounds, as well as emerging 16-year-old artiste Spoonky, alongside a wider line-up of performers drawn from Bulawayo’s diverse music scene.
One of the standout performers was Bhila, who appeared on both days of the festival and performed with a full band. His presence throughout the two-day programme underlined his growing influence on the local music scene.
The Makokoba Festival platform also provided him with an opportunity to test his live performance ahead of his upcoming “Bhila Live in Concert”, scheduled for October 2.
“The love I received from the people of Makokoba was amazing. Performing there for two days gave me an opportunity to connect with the people in a very different way because this was a home-grown festival and the audience came to support their own.
“Seeing people singing along, dancing and responding to the music reminded me why live performance is so important. I really appreciated the energy they gave me and the way they embraced the full band,” Bhila said.
Afro-pop musician Butholezwe Ntini was another artiste who left a mark on the festival. His performance of the hit song “TTI” quickly became a crowd favourite, with fans calling for him to perform the single again.
Lights WakoBulawayo, who was born and bred in Makokoba, also benefited from the home-ground advantage. His connection with the township was evident as the crowd sang along to his music, creating intimate moments of the festival.
While music remained at the centre of the event, organisers deliberately designed the festival to address wider community and cultural needs.
Festival Manager Christensen Mapuranga said the organisers considered this year’s festival a success because they were able to deliver on the key objectives they had set.
One of the major additions was the Wellness Village, which was established to give residents greater access to health services during the festival.
The organisers also introduced a Food Village and vendor economy, with more than 30 vendors targeted to provide services during the event. The initiative was deliberately designed to showcase
Makokoba’s food culture while creating economic opportunities for local traders.
“The festival’s food village was a success as it reflected Makokoba’s own cuisine and informal economy. Products like maputi, sadza nemuriwo, matemba, mahewu and braai were sold at the event,” said Mapuranga.
The festival also extended its focus to the professional development of musicians through a Live on Stage training workshop powered by Winya Sounds.
The programme sought to strengthen musicians’ understanding of stage presence, sound preparation for live performances, including sound checks, as well as performance rights issues.
“Apart from the above, we further expanded the festival through LensFestByo, a photography exhibition which featured a curated display of images documenting Makokoba township, its people and its cultural history.
“The exhibition provided a visual record of the community and reinforced the festival’s broader objective of celebrating Makokoba beyond its music,” said Mapuranga.
One of the major highlights of the festival came on the final day, when Dr Gasolo capped the programme with his arrival following his “Dr Gasolo Long Walk to Success”.
His journey began in Matshetsheni, Gwanda, and ended at the festival stage after three days of walking a gruelling 156 kilometres.
His arrival provided a symbolic conclusion to a festival built around endurance, community and the celebration of local identity.
The Makokoba Music Festival was founded in 2025, with the inaugural edition produced by Winya Sounds under Festival Director Tendai Mudimu and Festival Manager Christensen Mapuranga.
Councillor Lezinah Mohamed serves as Board Chairperson.
The festival was built around three broad pillars, which are cultural affirmation, community service and legacy.
“The cultural vision is rooted in the belief that what Bulawayo produces should be celebrated for its quality and originality rather than viewed as secondary to cultural output from elsewhere.
“The community pillar recognises that an event held in Makokoba cannot exist solely as an entertainment platform. The township is a working-class community with everyday needs, and the festival has sought to respond through health initiatives, opportunities for vendors, musician development and platforms for young creatives,” said Mapuranga.
