Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu [email protected]
LAST month’s National Culture Month celebrations were filled with music, dance and colour. But one moment stood out above the rest — a special gift presented to President Mnangagwa by Bulawayo musician Lewis Ndlovu.
Ndlovu, a well-known percussionist and founder of the Drums of Peace ensemble, has spent 40 years sharing African music and culture through the drum. For him, the instrument is more than something to play — it carries meaning, history and a sense of community.
During the celebrations at Barbourfields Stadium, he handed the President a custom-made drum, marking a personal and proud moment in his long career.
For Ndlovu, the gesture was not planned as business or work. It came from the heart.
“It took me three days to craft the drum. The idea of the drum was to say, ‘The President is coming to Bulawayo and the major event that he is coming for is launching the National Culture Month Celebrations.’ I’m a drummer and I’ve always been that. Since I’m celebrating 40 years in the arts sector, the drum has been my source of livelihood,” Ndlovu revealed in an exclusive interview with Saturday Leisure.
The drum carried a message. It was engraved with the words “Advancing Vision 2030”, showing support for the country’s development goals. According to Ndlovu, this was a way for artists to show unity with national efforts.
“The drum brings the people together to drumroll an important message to be delivered. The drum, engraved with the words ‘Advancing Vision 2030,’ was a way to say we are behind Government efforts, reciprocating the supportive relationship we have with the State. I would like to thank the Government for standing up for arts practitioners, and I thought that giving the President a drum would be a special and relevant treat for him and the occasion he was here for,” Ndlovu said.
In African culture, the drum has always held deep meaning. It is used to call people together, share important news and mark special occasions.
Ndlovu said this tradition guided his decision to present the drum to the President.
“We must keep the drum in high regard as a symbol of communication. Even before modern technology, it was used to transmit important messages to the masses. So, the idea was to echo the President’s message through the drum, to reverberate within the country and abroad so that the world knows that we are proud of our heritage and our traditions. It was a personal and dear gift of mine to our President. It wasn’t commissioned work.”
While the moment at Barbourfields was important, Ndlovu’s work did not end there. He continues to focus on passing knowledge to the younger generation.
This week, he organised an event called Inganekwane: Our City, Our Stories, Our Rhythm as part of the Bulawayo Arts Festival. The event focused on teaching young people about traditional folktales and why they matter.
Ndlovu believes these stories carry lessons that should not be lost.
“The folk tales are so important, and they always had morals and teachings; that is why there is the need to revive and promote Inganekwane. Inganekwane are the heartbeat of African oral tradition — teaching values, history, and imagination.”
He also believes that storytelling is not only about the past. Modern stories, he says, are just as important and should be shared with future generations.
“Again, every great story qualifies to be an inganekwane. Like the Peter Ndlovu story or Zenzo Moyo — the legends of football are great stories that deserve to be told and passed down to inspire future generations,” Ndlovu mused.
Looking back on his 40-year journey, Ndlovu’s passion for culture and community remains clear. From performing in Bulawayo to standing on a national stage, his mission has stayed the same — to keep Zimbabwean culture alive through music and storytelling.
Today, his work continues to inspire both young and old, proving that the sound of the drum still has the power to unite, teach and carry the country’s story forward.
