Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
BULAWAYO may be bursting at the seams with talent — but without proper management, the city’s stars are doomed to shine only in the dark!
Trevor Mawaka, the outspoken leader of the Bulawayo Children’s Choir, has thrown down the gauntlet, calling out the city’s artistic ecosystem for failing its creatives. In a fiery social media rant, Mawaka took no prisoners: Bulawayo has the talent, but where are the Keen Mushapaidzes and Yusufu Bandas to take these gems to the top?
“Talent is abound in Bulawayo! Especially musical talent!” he wrote. “But where are the managers who will make that talent bankable?”
The post has struck a chord with many in the city’s creative circles, as artistes continue to hustle solo in an industry that demands structure, strategy, and sharp business minds.
While a handful of local acts like Meet Luminous and Luchi Shiki (managed by Naboth Rizzla), Jeys Marabini (under Sithokozile Sibanda), and KhweziZW (with Thandie Sterling) have tasted success, these are rare exceptions in a desert of DIY dreams.
The brutal truth? Without skilled managers to secure gigs, broker deals, and guide careers, even the most gifted performers end up stuck — unheard and unpaid.
“Bulawayo needs more than just vibes,” said one local promoter. “It needs vision.”
The call is now louder than ever for industry stakeholders — from city council to private investors — to pump serious energy into grooming managers, setting up mentorship programmes, and building an arts industry that actually works.
If action isn’t taken soon, Bulawayo’s rich creative legacy risks fading into a chorus of missed opportunities.
Are we building stars — or burying talent?
Follow the conversation on X @MbuleloMpofu.
