Online Reporter
Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Reporter
WHEN Bruce Ncube returns to Bulawayo next month, he expects to find a city transformed in the half-decade since he last walked its streets.
The last time he was home, Bulawayo was still buzzing from Africa Day in Njube (ADIN), the community-driven festival he pioneered.
The event drew crowds from across the city to the township that raised him, affirming a simple truth: people hungered for music curated by their own sons and daughters.
On May 25, each year, affiliations to individual neighbourhoods were set aside as people made the pilgrimage to Njube to celebrate with Ncube and his friends.
Half a decade after leaving Zimbabwe, Ncube — popularly known as A Njube Giant — is ready to make his return.
This time, the musician and vocal coach believes much has changed. Some of the young musicians he once helped expose to bigger audiences have since become stars, establishing themselves as creative forces in their own right.
Ncube believes these young artistes are the ones carrying Bulawayo forward, winning people’s ears and hearts. That is why he has announced his return with a Homecoming Concert, through which he hopes to once again bring the stars to Njube.
“I do think the script is changing and people are paying attention to what we are doing,” he told Sunday Life.
“There is a wave of good talent making music that can compete with other cities in the world. So, it is up to us to put together a line-up that will get people off their seats.”
While all eyes will be on Ncube, he insists the spotlight should also shine on Mpilo Hospital and Njube Hall — the two beneficiaries of the concert proceeds.
“I am doing this now because there is need to help each other as a city. Bulawayo is lacking in many areas — arts, infrastructure, healthcare, education and public services. Like Vusa Mkhaya always says to me, ‘singekela ukuzenzela akula ozasenzela’ (we have to do things for ourselves because no one will).
“I am inspired by his words. This city showed me nothing but love and my artistic skills were sharpened and nurtured by some of the most talented people here. I was brought up to give. Ubuntu is what I was taught and people from Bulawayo are some of the most generous I have ever met in all my travels. Even when we do not have much, we still give without expecting anything back,” he said.
Ncube explained that Mpilo Hospital, particularly the children’s ward, was chosen because it is an under-appreciated landmark in Bulawayo.
“Mpilo Hospital, one of the beneficiaries of the Homecoming Concert, is where many of us were born. Giving back to it feels right. I would love to walk into that hospital with fellow artistes, carrying a good amount of money that will hopefully change some children’s lives. I also want other artistes to understand that they are of public service — they can play a massive role in helping others, not just taking. I hope people will come in their numbers, as they have promised on my Facebook posts whenever I speak about the concert,” he said.
For Ncube, his return is not only a chance to reconnect with family and friends but also an opportunity to reflect on Africa Day in Njube, which remains one of the most significant achievements of his career despite his success overseas.
“I have been away from home for a long time and I look forward to seeing family, spending quality time with my kids and reconnecting with other creatives. Africa Day in Njube was a huge success, and people still talk about it today, even five years after it folded. It was more than a festival — it was a community-building event that celebrated Africa Day, a day observed across the continent and in the diaspora.
“We wanted to bring a unique experience to the masses in Bulawayo’s high-density suburbs, giving them the chance to see superstars, engage and converse in one space in a relaxed atmosphere. My team and I realised there was a massive gap between creatives and the masses, especially in the townships, so we thought: why not bring something huge to Njube? It remains close to my heart and one of my biggest successes,” he said.
Although proud of ADIN’s success, Ncube believes the Homecoming Concert will be even bigger.
“The difference with the Homecoming Concert is that we are going bigger than ADIN. This one will directly benefit people in need within our city and community. We are asking people to dig deeper into their pockets and help us make a difference. I am setting up a crowd-funding page so that people in the diaspora who cannot attend physically can still donate to this charitable event,” he said.
Initially, Ncube had envisioned an intimate gathering of 150 attendees.
However, after encouragement from various quarters, he has been compelled to aim higher. The show’s venue and date are yet to be announced.
“I have been very lucky in my career. I have had a lot of support, including for concepts like Africa Day in Njube, which drew close to 2 000 people in a single day. Because I have always been supported back home, I hope this will be the case again. I had initially targeted 150 people for the concert, but many expressed interest and felt that number was too small,” he said.
