Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Seasoned Bulawayo-based entertainment promoter Omega Sibanda, who once ran the legendary New Windermere Hotel, River Dance Club, and Club Alabama, has described the late Babongile Sikhonjwa as a cornerstone of Bulawayo’s entertainment industry and a driving force behind some of the city’s most memorable showbiz moments.
Speaking on the sidelines of Sikhonjwa’s emotional memorial service held at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on Friday, an event that drew hundreds of mourners from across the arts, media, and business sectors, Sibanda recalled how Sikhonjwa’s talent, charisma, and work ethic transformed the entertainment landscape.
“I’m deeply hurt by Babongile Sikhonjwa’s death. The best guy is just gone,” said Sibanda.
“Babongile complemented my life because he was not just a colleague, he was a partner in everything I did in showbiz. He worked with me at New Windermere Hotel River Dance Club, and Club Alabama. He also worked for Mumbengegwi at Visions Nightclub, where he honed his skills as an MC while deejaying there.”
Sibanda said it was during this formative period that Sikhonjwa’s natural ability to engage audiences and manage entertainment operations became undeniable.
“When he came to Windermere, he was performing as a singer, but through our conversations, I realised his real strength was in entertainment management. I appointed him as entertainment manager, and from there, we never looked back,” he said.
Together, the pair staged some of Bulawayo’s most successful events, with many selling out year after year and firmly establishing the city as a hub for live entertainment.
“We organised show after show, some of them selling out for nine years straight. Babongile was instrumental in making that happen. He was handling the entertainment desk, coordinating everything, and at one point, he was even doubling shows for both Visions and Windermere, where River Dance was based,” Sibanda recalled.
Sikhonjwa, remembered as a dynamic MC, DJ, radio personality, mentor, and cultural influencer, continues to be celebrated for the pivotal role he played in building Bulawayo’s vibrant arts and entertainment culture.
