Online Reporter
Gift Moyo, [email protected]
KNOWN for being one of Zimbabwe’s most private and self-effacing creatives, boasting an extensive international career, multifaceted creative Mylo Moyo has opened up about his life as a versatile Zimbabwean singer, dancer and performer who has worked with some of the biggest creative organisations in the world.
Having worked on creative projects with globally acclaimed brands such as Nickelodeon, Edgars and ZimSun Hotels, among others, Moyo is arguably one of the most internationally accomplished creatives Zimbabwe has produced over the past decade, yet few people know him.
As a naturally private person, Moyo has built a bankable international career while quietly residing in Zimbabwe. He has travelled across the globe, working on numerous creative projects and showcases with some of the biggest fashion brands and entertainment platforms in the world.
Having realised what is possible for Zimbabweans on the global stage, Moyo has decided to put aside his life of privacy and share his experiences and knowledge of the global creative industry, with the hope of inspiring rising Zimbabwean creatives to take a chance on themselves on the international stage.
“I would describe myself as someone who is private rather than secretive. I’ve always been much more interested in doing the work than being seen doing the work. My career has largely been built through collaborations with casting directors, producers and entertainment companies rather than through publicity or social media, and I’ve really enjoyed having a normal, private life when I’m home in Zimbabwe.
“But I’ve recently realised that there is a downside to being that unknown, and that is that people don’t necessarily know that these sort of international opportunities exist, or that a Zimbabwean can build a sustainable career doing this. So I now want to talk about my work, particularly if sharing my experience can encourage another performer to think beyond the obvious routes,” said Moyo.
Having graduated from Fingers Modelling Academy in Bulawayo, Moyo hit the ground running, securing creative collaborations with local brands such as Edgars and ZimSun Hotels. From there, his career began to take off and, over time, the star creative added more skills to his repertoire, pursuing opportunities beyond modelling.
“I actually started by doing a little bit of everything. I graduated from Fingers Modelling Academy in Bulawayo and immediately booked commercials with Edgars, ZimSun Hotels and fashion shows. From there, I began acting in local projects and then left Zimbabwe to pursue it all again — singing, dancing, acting, hosting.
“I realised quite early that I didn’t want to limit myself to one discipline. One of my early international opportunities was working at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and I later became a Nickelodeon host, which was just wild.
“That experience really opened my eyes to the scale of the international entertainment industry, the rehearsal and discipline that goes into productions made me want to develop into a true production performer — someone who could sing, dance and act at a professional level rather than simply be known for one talent,” he said.
Taking into account his extensive portfolio of creative projects and showcases with some of the biggest brands both locally and internationally, Moyo said he had treated each experience as an opportunity to learn and explore his vast skill set as a creative.
“Each experience gave me something completely different, but I’d probably say Carnival’s production division was the best to work with because it has allowed me to grow into the multi-threat performer I always wanted to become.
“I’ve performed across Carnival ships as a production-cast singer-dancer, working within large-scale, million-dollar theatrical productions alongside highly trained international performers and production teams.
“What I love most is that I’m constantly being challenged — vocally, physically and theatrically — so every contract adds another layer to my craft. And I’m all about the craft and mastering the discipline.”
Back in Bulawayo after performing as one of the principal singer-dancers in the recent stage production Rock Revolution, hosted by Carnival Cruise Line, Moyo reminisced about how special and enjoyable the experience was and how it was something he had wanted to do for a long time.
“Most recently, I performed as one of the principal singer-dancers in Rock Revolution, one of Carnival’s most demanding production shows, aboard Carnival Radiance.
“Seven months of an incredibly high-intensity production show where the cast is singing and dancing at full throttle, virtually non-stop, was an absolute bucket-list thrill ride.
“I actually first saw the show being developed during my very first Carnival contract in 2019 and had wanted to perform it ever since, so finally getting the opportunity seven contracts later, in the exact role I prayed for, was a particularly full-circle moment.
“I got to perform ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’, infusing it with a little gospel, and had the rare opportunity to have the show’s choreographer, Rudy Abreu, come aboard and watch us perform his show.
“It was a very special project and a significant moment in my career and life.”
Although he has already been part of and achieved what many creatives and artists around the world spend their entire careers chasing, Moyo said he still feels he is in the process of building his career and that what he has done so far is only a glimpse of what is yet to come as he continues to learn and improve his creative abilities.
“I’m still in the process of building my career. Still keeping my head down and chasing the work and staying open to surprises.
“I’m focused on continuing to grow internationally as a production-cast singer-dancer and expanding into more ambitious film, theatrical and live-entertainment projects.
“Live entertainment is dominating the world right now and it is very much the future, as technology and changing business models continue to shape how artists build careers.
“I’m finally finding the time to develop some of my own creative work, so the next stage for me is really about moving from simply being part of great productions to eventually creating and developing productions of my own.
“So I have decades more of work ahead of me. I’m also open to short-term side-quests like modelling and acting, both locally and internationally,” he said.
As a Zimbabwean who has carved out a path onto the global stage as a creative, Moyo strongly believes there are a plethora of opportunities available to Zimbabwean creatives who take the initiative and focus on building international careers.
“I honestly think the opportunities are much bigger than most people realise, especially for struggling or aspiring local artists and performers who have the talent and potential but maybe lack the right environment to succeed.
“We tend to think about becoming recording artists, leveraging social media as influencers, building careers around local gigs and recognition, or somehow making it to Hollywood or Broadway.
“But there is a huge international live-entertainment industry which is part of that universe. Singers, dancers, actors, musicians, technicians, wardrobe, craftspeople and other creatives can work internationally in cruise entertainment productions, resorts, theme parks, global touring productions and so many entertainment markets that are directly an extension of Hollywood, Broadway and West End.
“I’ve built a solid and bankable career from that universe for more than a decade, and I think the biggest opportunity is simply getting Zimbabwean creatives to realise that these careers exist — just a Google search and online submission/audition away — and then training themselves to a level where they can work internationally in that universe.”
