Matabeleland reclaiming identity through creative power

For decades, Matabeleland has carried the weight of marginalisation, economic neglect, and cultural invisibility, yet from that silence a new generation of creatives is emerging with enough courage, talent, and vision to transform pain into purpose and exclusion into momentum.

Across Matabeleland, a cultural awakening is unfolding with a quiet but undeniable force, driven by artists, poets, musicians, promoters, designers, entrepreneurs, and community builders who have refused to allow economic hardship, institutional neglect, or historical marginalisation to define the future of the region.

What is happening today is more than a creative boom; it is the rebirth of regional confidence through culture, identity, and collective determination, as young people increasingly turn to art not only as a form of expression but as a means of reclaiming pride, preserving heritage, and rebuilding belief in themselves and their communities.

For many years, Matabeleland has often existed on the edges of national cultural conversations despite possessing some of the country’s richest artistic traditions and most gifted creatives.

Yet in the absence of consistent institutional support, the region’s artists have learned to create their own platforms, build independent audiences, and support one another in ways that are slowly transforming the cultural landscape.

Businesses such as Boom Culture, KoSamuriwo, Slice Pizzeria, and Signature Suits have begun investing in local talent and events, while the Bulawayo mayor together with local radio stations continue to provide platforms that amplify the voices of creatives who have long deserved greater recognition.

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Cultural initiatives such as Imiklomelo KaDakamela are also playing a vital role in celebrating artistic excellence and fostering unity within the region’s growing creative ecosystem.

At the centre of this resurgence are artists whose success is proving that Matabeleland’s talent can stand proudly on the global stage without abandoning its identity or roots.

Groups and artists such as Iyasa, Nitefreak DJ, Awakhiwe, Vusa Mkhaya, Mokoomba, Nobuntu, Jazz Marabini, and Future Love are carrying the spirit of Matabeleland across continents, touring internationally and flying the Zimbabwean flag higher while remaining deeply connected to the sounds, stories, languages, and rhythms of their homeland.

 Their journeys have become living proof that creativity born in Bulawayo and the greater Matabeleland region can resonate far beyond Zimbabwe’s borders when matched with discipline, originality, persistence, and self-belief.

The rise of these artists should serve as inspiration to emerging creatives throughout the region, particularly young people who often grow up believing that global success belongs only to those with access to major institutions or privileged spaces.

The international recognition achieved by Nitefreak DJ in electronic music, the timeless artistry and cultural storytelling of Vusa Mkhaya, the theatrical brilliance of Iyasa, the powerful vocal harmony of Nobuntu, the global cultural fusion of Mokoomba, and the enduring influence of Jazz Marabini all demonstrate that artists from Matabeleland can compete at the highest level while remaining authentic to who they are.

Their success offers an important lesson to the next generation: greatness does not require abandoning one’s culture, but embracing it boldly enough for the world to notice.

At home, this spirit of resilience and cultural pride continues to grow through artists who are building strong audiences and creating independent movements despite economic challenges and limited resources.

Performers such as Mzoe 7, Noluntu J, and Bhila are drawing large crowds through successful one-man shows that reveal a growing hunger among local audiences to support their own talent, while musicians such as Black Diva and Asaph Afrika continue to produce work deeply rooted in authenticity and identity.

 Poets including Sonkomose, Thaluso Da Poet, Um’Africakazi, and Dr Gasolo are using spoken word as a form of healing, resistance, and cultural preservation, reminding communities of the power of language, storytelling, and indigenous voices in shaping both memory and identity.

What makes this moment significant is that creativity in Matabeleland is no longer functioning solely as entertainment; it is becoming a form of resistance, reconstruction, and empowerment.

 In a region where generations have often felt excluded from mainstream national narratives, art is restoring confidence among young people and communities by proving that their voices matter, their stories are valuable, and their culture deserves visibility and celebration.

Music, poetry, fashion, theatre, and independent cultural platforms are creating spaces where people can see themselves reflected with dignity and pride, and this process of cultural affirmation is slowly rebuilding the region’s sense of self-worth.

The most powerful aspect of this movement, however, is the growing understanding that unity is essential for long-term growth.

Artists, promoters, businesses, civic leaders, radio stations, and audiences are increasingly recognising that collaboration creates stronger opportunities than division ever could.

 The rise of local partnerships, independent platforms, and community support systems demonstrates that Matabeleland’s creative sector is beginning to move with a shared sense of purpose, and that unity itself is becoming one of the region’s greatest strengths.

Matabeleland is therefore entering a defining cultural era in which creativity is helping a people reclaim what years of marginalisation attempted to diminish. It is reclaiming confidence. It is reclaiming identity.

It is reclaiming language, storytelling, pride, and visibility. Most importantly, it is reclaiming belief in the possibility of greatness.

What is happening in Matabeleland today is bigger than entertainment; it is the rebuilding of regional confidence through creativity, unity, and the refusal to let silence define a people whose stories deserve to be heard.

From poetry stages in Bulawayo to international music festivals across the world, Matabeleland is rising from nothing to reclaim everything, and if this momentum continues, the region’s creative voice will become impossible to ignore.

• Mthulisi Ndlovu (KhuluGatsheni / KingKG) is a Zimbabwean poet, socio-political commentator, and cultural activist whose work interrogates injustice, preserves indigenous voices, and advances cultural emancipation through literature and performance.