The City of Bulawayo is known as the country’s arts and culture hub. The city is a leader in the arts, culture and heritage sector having established a dedicated office to mainstream the creative industry into municipal programming.
Masiyephambili Weekly (MW) sat down with Vuyo Dube (VD) to speak about the challenges and opportunities in the creative sector.
MW: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your artistic background?
VD: I am Vuyo Dube, popularly known as Adoe, and I am an artist from Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb. My music journey started at a tender age. I used to sing in church and became part of the school choir at Luveve High School. I advanced with my love for music to tertiary level where I became a part of the university choir. During my tertiary level this is where I was assisted in defining my vocals and this fuelled my passion. This gave me confidence to start my solo recordings. In 2019, I started working on my solo and since then I have released several singles EP (extended play) then an album followed.
MW: What inspired you to pursue music?
VD: Music is a calling, it flows naturally and I am very passionate. I used to enjoy live shows and that really got me inspired. Generally that is how I was inspired to do music.
MW: Who are your local music legends or heroes that have shaped your style?
VD: I used to love Afro Soul and I believe it influenced my sound immensely. One of the artists whose voice inspires my singing is Gog’ Bekezela. His tone, his approach and his message shaped my style. The legendary Lovemore Majaivana also shaped my style. I have a song titled Ofana Nawe, if you listen to it, you get to hear that the rhythm and melodies are inspired by his sound. In the same song, you hear imbube-like backing vocals, and that speaks to integrating Black Umfolosi and Indosakusa in my music as well. These are ensemble groups that we grew up listening to.
- Music is my calling, says Vuyo Dube
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MW: What message do you want your music to have in the community?
VD: I want my music to positively impact the community. My objective is to inspire a young person from the township to believe in their dreams. I sing about love which is the foundation of a healthy society. My song title Masishade celebrates marriage, which I believe is an institution that needs to be worked on. I believe the marriage institution must be respected.
MW: What challenges have you faced as a musician in Bulawayo, and how did you overcome them?
VD: My challenge really is that I haven’t been able to take the music from Bulawayo to other parts of southern Africa and the global market. I am on a mission to troubleshoot and devise strategies that will make the brand visible so that it is not merely confined to where I come from.
MW: How do you see music contributing to Bulawayo’s arts and cultural identity?
VD: Music is a reflection of who we are and how we live on a daily basis. One speaker once said as an artist, your duty is to ensure your music reflects the times we live in. When we sing about ubuntu or lobola, I believe it directly or indirectly speaks to our culture. I have a song that says “Baba ngicela inkomo”. This song is a reflection of our culture, whereby a young man approaches their elders to inform them of their intention to marry. In the Ndebele culture we believe that the fathers help their sons when preparing to lobola. Music is an important custodian of our culture, and generations to come can learn about who they are not only from books or oral tradition but from music as a reliable source.
MW: In closing, what will you advise young aspiring artists in Bulawayo?
VD: To young creatives, I would say stay true to your craft and your story. Our city is rich in culture and resilience so let that be reflective in your work. Be patient with your journey, stay consistent, and never stop learning. Your voice matters and the world is waiting to hear it.
