Online Reporter
Langelihle Dube, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
IN a modest township home, surrounded by the everyday buzz of life, a young boy once sat beside a radio, rewriting lyrics of Kwaito music into the margins of his schoolbooks.
That boy was Nkosentsha Bakani Hikwa. Today, he is better known as “Kotwane Hikwa”, one of Zimbabwe’s rising Afro-house DJs and producers, whose journey has been as raw as it is remarkable.
But this was never just about fame or fame’s sake. This was about sound, soul, survival and a calling he could not ignore.
It began in 2004 when he was in Grade Four. Back then, Kwaito ruled the airwaves. He would rewrite the lyrics of his favourite songs, unknowingly laying the foundation for a life driven by rhythm. Two years later, he stumbled His journey, however, was not just shaped by what played on the radio. It was also deeply influenced by family. Raised by his grandfather, who insisted on education before anything else, Nkosentsha learnt to navigate the tension between duty and desire.
“My grandfather was into jazz. At the time, I didn’t enjoy it, but now it’s what I play to relax. It calms me down.”
He believes his musical gene came from his late father, who loved Splash music and often posed for pictures next to the radio. That love for music ran deep and it would guide him even through the most difficult of storms.
In 2009, everything crystallised. Watching South African DJ Kent guest on Euphonik’s My House show was the spark that turned fascination into determination.
“I told myself, I’m definitely going to be a DJ.”
He did not have a laptop, so he wrote down track-lists in a notebook, imaginary sets waiting for a stage. When a neighbour who was a boarder left him a laptop in 2010, Nkosentsha taught himself to mix. But passion clashed with responsibility. He started failing at school, missed O-Level exams and was given an ultimatum by his grandfather: education first or leave.
“I chose to go back (to school). Sadly, my grandfather passed away before he saw my results.”
In 2013, one of his mixtapes landed in the hands of one DJ Bhabha, who upon hearing it, invited him to learn how to mix on actual decks. That moment was a breakthrough.
“Mixing two songs perfectly, I’ll never forget the look on his face. He was impressed and we pushed from there.”
Later that year, Nkosentsha left for South Africa to study Digital Music Composition. He lived in Yeoville, chasing paperwork and gigs. But a scammer took advantage of his dream, conning him and his mother out of R15 000.
“I was getting gigs here and there, but none of them paid. Still, it was the hunger and drive that pushed me to get into these spaces and showcase my talent.”
He held early sets at Time Square Pub in South Africa, where he played without pay or refreshments. But for him, it was not about the money, it was about growth.
“I just wanted to play. My aunt would ask about the money, but I was just happy to have the chance.”
Back in Zimbabwe, by late 2014, his friends were now in college and he decided to study Human Resources locally. It was a practical move.
“There’s nothing worse than being an artiste with no academic background. These days, people will take advantage of you if you’re not sharp.”
Locally, his first club set was at the then Club 40 40 on Valentine’s Day, a late-night slot that turned into a crowd-frenzy moment. That memory still fuels him. The defining turning point, however, came in November 2022, just after the Covid-19 lockdown. Kotwane was booked at East 68, where a regular patron named Kiki noticed his talent.
She arranged for him to play at Smokehouse, not a residency, just a test.
“I planned that set all week. I was only given an hour, guest DJs usually got three. But after that set, management asked me to keep going. That’s when I knew something had shifted.”
That night marked the beginning of something special. Since then, he has not looked back and has played at top events like Garden of House, Piano Cuzzle, Garage Festival and venues across Zimbabwe and South Africa. His residency at Cotton Lounge in Bulawayo feels like a homecoming, a place where his journey, sound and story all come together.
When planning sets, Kotwane said he studies the venue and vibes through social media. His focus: connection.
“They say you’re only as good as your last set. It’s tough with limited new music each week, but I try to make every set matter.”
He uses music to process personal experiences — from heartbreak to healing. In his home studio, he lets the emotions guide him.
“I’ve sacrificed a relationship and sleep for this craft. When inspiration strikes, I work, I don’t wait.”
And while criticism comes, he listens and adjusts.
“You can’t impress everyone, but feedback helps me grow.”
Giving back and passing the torch, Kotwane has become a mentor. He has taught DJs like Sfiso, who now plays at events across the city. One of his students even made it to the Top eight of the Carling Black Label DJ Clash in Harare.
“I want to be remembered as someone who opened doors, not just walked through them. Someone who passed the torch.”
Beyond the booth, when not gigging, Kotwane finds peace in meditation and books. It helps him cut through the noise, both literal and mental.
“I believe in stillness. It makes me more productive.”
His biggest challenge? Perfectionism.
His advice to aspiring DJs is clear: “Love the music. The industry is tough without a backbone. But if you love it, stay disciplined and stay consistent, nothing can stop you.”
His name, Kotwane, traces back to a childhood nickname. A helper’s child was named Kothiwane, which he mispronounced as Kotwane. The name stuck and now, it defines him.
“I didn’t like it at first, but the neighbourhood knew me by that. I eventually dropped ‘DJ’ and added my surname to make it mine — Kotwane Hikwa”.
