Profile: Bothwell ‘Bozoe’ Nkomo

FOR Bulawayo’s jazz guitarist, song writer, vocal instructor, vocalist and one-time International Organisation for Migration award winner Bothwell “Bozoe” Nkomo (28), it’s all about music.

FOR Bulawayo’s jazz guitarist, song writer, vocal instructor, vocalist and one-time International Organisation for Migration award winner Bothwell “Bozoe” Nkomo (28), it’s all about music.

NONHLANHLA SIBANDA OWN CORRESPONDENT

The South Africa-based artiste was born on December 6 1986 at Mpilo Hospital in the city, Nkomo went to Mayezane Primary School in Wenlock, Gwanda, before moving to Bulawayo to stay with his mother, who was a nurse at Mater Dei Hospital.

He completed primary education at Sigombe and Mahlabezulu Primary schools respectively in the city.

He did high school at Ihlathi where he joined the school choir.

“I was in love with music; I joined the choir and landed the role of lead vocalist. We travelled to Harare to record the first-ever school choir cassette with instruments,” Nkomo said.

After completing high school, Nkomo enrolled at the Amakhosi Performing Arts Academy and graduated four years later with an Advanced Diploma in Creative Arts, Communications and Multimedia as a sound major.

“The course included all the major elements in showbiz such as music, performance, film and video, theatre, script writing, directing, dance, musical instruments and arts management and administration. Director of Amakhosi, Cont Mhlanga coined the name Bozoe and it grew to the brand it is today,” Nkomo said.

Bozoe is the second born in a family of three. His sister Sisasenkosi is a prolific singer, who is engaged to Maatlaa Modimo of Botswana.

Bothwell ‘Bozoe’ Nkomo
Bothwell ‘Bozoe’ Nkomo

The youthful artiste has worked with Tshedi Mholo, the lead singer of popular South African group Malaika as a co-judge at auditions.

He has rubbed shoulders with South African artistes Kholeka, gospel great Rebecca Malope, Soweto Gospel Choir, Mbuso Khoza, Lesego, Themba Mkhize and Khabonina Qhubeka.

“I am inspired by musician Dobet Gnaore from Ivory Coast. Her energy on stage and business ethics are marvelous.

“I want to run a very successful consulting company that will save careers of many arts practitioners,” he said.

“I want to see the arts sector become a viable and accessible entity in Africa and see poverty being alleviated by talent.

“I must say I have created quite a fan base in South Africa, particularly in Mpumalanga province. Zimbabwe is slowly catching up.”

Nkomo will headline the annual KwaNdebele Beach Festival in Mpumalanga, South Africa, for the first time on December 20.

The event will feature top DJs, hip-hop powerhouses Rick Rick, Shimza, Kent and many others.

Nkomo has recorded and produced a full album titled uDumo, which was recently remastered at the SABC RBF studios in Pretoria.

Its hit track Bekezela has become quite popular with radio stations, television programmes and mobile digital downloads, locally and across the Limpopo.

Nkomo has performed at a number of prestigious shows such as the Harare International Festival of the Arts, Intwasa Arts Festival, 2010 Fifa World Cup concert, South African Correctional Services rehabilitation programmes for inmates and Africa Day concerts.

Nkomo will be home on December 23 as a guest artiste at a concert to be hosted by Bulawayo’s Impumelelo Shining Stars at the Bulawayo Theatre.