Online Reporter
Thabani H Moyo
Bulawayo has always pulsed to the rhythm of art, from its theatre stages and poetry circles to its jazz clubs and cultural centres. The city’s story is woven through its creatives, its storytellers, its cultural custodians. Yet in recent years, Bulawayo has been plunged into mourning after losing five towering figures — Pathisa Nyathi, Cont Mhlanga, Sihlangu Dlodlo, Desire “Moyoxide” Moyo, and Babongile Sikhonjwa.
Together, they defined a generation. They made Bulawayo the cultural heartbeat of Zimbabwe, giving the city a voice that sang, spoke, and acted with purpose.
Pathisa Nyathi: The cultural historian
Pathisa Nyathi was the guardian of heritage, a historian who taught that identity is art and art is memory. Through the Amagugu International Heritage Centre and countless books, he chronicled the spiritual, historical, and philosophical dimensions of African life. His wisdom restored pride in indigenous knowledge, reminding us that creativity begins with knowing who we are.
Cont Mhlanga: The theatre revolutionary
Cont Mhlanga was a creative force who built bridges between art and activism. As founder of Amakhosi Cultural Centre and Amakhosi Theatre, he revolutionised storytelling, producing powerful stage and television works that confronted social issues head-on. A mentor to many, including Sihlangu Dlodlo and Desire Moyo, Cont’s legacy lives in the countless artistes who passed through Amakhosi’s doors, leaving with courage, craft, and conscience.
Sihlangu Dlodlo: The arts administrator and visionary
Sihlangu Dlodlo was the quiet strategist behind many creative movements. Having emerged from Amakhosi, he evolved into a disciplined arts administrator, educator, and later sports executive. His calm leadership style blended artistry with accountability, showing that creativity thrives when structure supports it. He was proof that artistry and professionalism are not enemies, but partners.
Desire ‘Moyoxide’ Moyo:
The people’s poet
Desire Moyo’s voice was thunder wrapped in tenderness. A poet, performer, and cultural worker, he transformed poetry into a public act of consciousness. Through initiatives like Eziko Laboratory and Victory Siyanqoba, he cultivated a new generation of performance poets who continue to use verse as a tool for reflection and reform. Desire embodied the spirit of art that listens and speaks for the people.
Babongile Sikhonjwa: The entertainer and connector
If laughter is medicine, then Babongile Sikhonjwa was Bulawayo’s healer. A comedian, musician, radio presenter, and MC, he brought charisma and humour wherever he went. Babongile united audiences across class and culture, making entertainment a language of unity. His voice on stage and radio celebrated Bulawayo’s vibrancy, reminding everyone that art can heal, connect, and uplift even in hard times.
A city in mourning, a city in reflection. Losing these five visionaries in quick succession is like losing chapters from Bulawayo’s cultural encyclopaedia. Each embodied a unique dimension of creativity — history, theatre, management, poetry, and entertainment. Their death leaves a silence that reverberates through rehearsal rooms, galleries, studios, and classrooms. Yet within that quiet lies a challenge: to carry their work forward and keep their legacy alive.
They did not live for applause; they lived for legacy. And legacies, unlike lives, are not meant to end.
* The writer, Thabani Hillary Moyo, is a celebrated educator and arts practitioner.
