The occasion calls for introspection on how Zimbabwe’s diverse communities can coexist and collaborate.

The arts have always been a mirror of society, reflecting its struggles, triumphs, and aspirations.

Our current global context has been characterised by societal expectations and physical barriers which have seen a quest for resilience and a quest for determination.

 The interplay between technology and tradition in Zimbabwean local arts presents a fascinating blend of preservation, innovation, and cultural evolution.

The arts serve not only as an outlet for creativity but also as a form of resistance and an assertion of identity in a society where the youth are often marginalised.

In Zimbabwe, where accessibility remains a challenge across various sectors, the arts are no exception.

There are moments in the arts sector when performance transcends the aesthetic and becomes a revolutionary gesture.

To be African is to exist in rhythm with a constellation of memory, resistance, philosophy and creativity.

In West Africa, musicians like Falz and Angelique Kidjo have used song to critique child marriage and gender-based violence, blending rhythm with rights-based messaging.

Culture has emerged not just as a marker of identity, but as a currency of trade, diplomacy, and survival.

But at the heart of Khumalo’s story is something far deeper: the belief that art, culture, and tenderness are not contradictions to manhood they are its foundation.