Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza Online Reporter
For weeks, Bulawayo had been holding its breath to host one of the biggest matches of the 2025 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
Just as the city was warming up to an afternoon of good football between Highlanders and Scotland FC in a Chibuku Cup quarter-final, bad news struck. One of the city’s most celebrated icons in the entertainment industry had died.
His name was Babongile Sikhonjwa. This reporter’s last conversation with Sikhonjwa was on Friday night at around 9:30pm. We had planned to meet at Red Café, the entertainment hub he ran, but after he got busy, we rescheduled our meet-up for Saturday.
By Sunday morning, messages started flooding social media that the man, an entertainer who defied odds with his sometimes crude but never offensive jokes, his humility, and his larger-than-life presence, had passed on.
Sikhonjwa would have been at Barbourfields Stadium that Sunday afternoon. He would have been wearing his head gear (umqhele), proudly walking around the VIP arena, telling anyone who cared to listen how much he loved Bosso and his city, Bulawayo.
As Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub Reporter Langalakhe Mabena once put it, Sikhonjwa earned himself the title, “The Ndebele Rockstar”.
He died on September 21 at the age of 49, after a short illness. He was rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) but sadly could not pull through.
Those close to him have remembered him as a vibrant, humorous character who lived to make others laugh. His infectious personality and sharp wit made him a beloved figure both on and off the microphone.
Sikhonjwa’s unmatched talent behind the mic saw him build a formidable career in broadcasting. For more than a decade, he was a household name on Bulawayo’s Skyz Metro FM, where he was one of the station’s pioneering presenters. In 2023, he joined Star FM under Zimpapers, where he hosted The After-Drive. His work earned him national recognition, including a National Arts Merit Award (Nama) for Outstanding Radio Presenter in 2019.
Beyond radio, Sikhonjwa was a true jack of all trades. He carved out a successful career as a comedian, winning multiple accolades, and also pursued acting. He appeared in the 2014 production Mr Perfect and in Soulmate, which premiered on ZTN Prime in 2022.
As a qualified sound engineer, Sikhonjwa also made his mark as a music and events promoter, contributing significantly to Bulawayo’s arts and entertainment scene. He provided platforms for many young creatives to showcase their talent, nurturing the careers of DJ Skaiva, Mzoe 7, Tebza, producer Phanas, Mzistozz Mfanafuthi, Guluva 7, and the late Clive Chigubu and Cal_Vin, among others.
Tributes have been pouring in for the multi-talented entertainer, with many highlighting his role in uplifting Bulawayo’s arts sector and his unwavering commitment to promoting local talent.
