Here is the second and final part of the interview with Ackim “iGabazi” Ndebele. You may read Part One here. <Read time: 6 min> The Poetry of…SJ: I did not know that you are also a poet… Before music, politics, and teaching, I am a poet. My poems were always political, and they circulated abantu […]
Author: Sonny Jermain
Jermain Ndhlovu (Bulawayo, 1986), best known as Sonny Jermain, is a multi-disciplinarian based in the Netherlands.
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The Republic of… Ackim Ndebele
He is one of the #FreeMRP9 who was jailed for three years in maximum security after staging a protest in Bulawayo in 2021. Musician, poet, and Mthwakazi Republic Party’s communications head, Ackim “iGabazi” Ndebele (1987, Malalume, Plumtree), speaks out. <Read time: 9 min> “You don’t necessarily see blatant tribalism until you become older.” Primary School: […]
We continue with former Dalom Kids’ front lady Jacqueline Rotwana. Read Part I here. My new book, Thole likaMthwakazi, about Bulawayo’s contributions to music in the world, is due 27 November 2025. <10 min read time> “We literally, were, kids”. The First Passport Stamp of… Zimbabwe. The Dalom Kids of…David Seagal sold us to Gallo […]
Before Destiny’s Child, there was Dalom Kids, and Umdala Joshua Nkomo was heard asking: “Kanti ngobani lama-Dalom Kids?”. On 14 August 1995, the album Izindunduma came out, and thirty years later, I have an exclusive chat with the notoriously private former Dalom Kids lead singer Jacqueline Rotwana (Johannesburg, 1973) who has finally gone solo with […]
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I-lizwe lika… Gogo Ellen Mlangeni
Umdlalikazi engimthanda ukwedlula bonke empilweni! Nangu u-MaVundla, ingcitshi-nkulu ephilayo kwezamasiko leSintu, uGogo Bella Ellen Mlangeni (Tsholotsho, 1952) owayengumkhaleli lokuba ngumaqala we-Thandanani Women’s Ensemble. Ephuma elokitshini leNkosi u-Matshobana ko-Bulawayo, usiphakulela okusesizweni sakhe. Ugwalo lwami Thole likaMthwakazi luyeza 27 Lwezi 2025. <Imizuzu eyisikhombisa (7) ukubala> <Read it in English> Iskolo sesigaba sakuqala: Nhlabathi Primary School, Tsholotsho.Iskolo sesigaba […]
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The Republic of… Ellen Mlangeni
My all-time favourite actress! Here is MaVundla, a living legend of the arts and Isintu culture, Gogo Bella Ellen Mlangeni (Tsholotsho, 1952), the former lead singer and founder of the redoubtable Thandanani Women’s Ensemble. Coming from King Matshobana Township in Bulawayo, she serves us what is in her affairs. My book Thole likaMthwakazi is due […]
My first subject for this new interview series, from my C-Square ’hood in Prince Njube Township, is choreographer Alexander “Xander” Mhlanga (Bulawayo, 1978) who reveals his state of arts 30 years into the industry. I have interviewed a variety of people from my former Ntabazinduna homeland chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni to David Coltart to Prudence […]