This Africa Day, Afrluencer Magazine shines a spotlight on Hwabaraty, an artist whose life and work echo the heartbeat of Africa itself. A performer, a storyteller, and a cultural curator, Hwabaraty isn’t just sharing music, he’s sharing identity, history, and a future vision for African creativity.
Where the Name Began: A Mistaken Chant That Became Destiny
“My name ‘Hwabaraty’ came from a misheard chant.” At the 2008 SADC Festival in Botswana, the crowd roared “Habarate kiyakurata,” a Setswana phrase meaning “we love you.” Hwabaraty, then a member of Amawumbo Dance Company, thought they were shouting his name, “Hwabaraty.” Rather than correcting the moment, he embraced it.
“That’s when I knew the name chose me. I wasn’t even a solo act yet, but something in that moment said, ‘This is your path.’”
This origin story is symbolic of his entire journey, unexpected, spiritual, deeply African, and connected to people.
On Cultural Storytelling: “We carry our ancestors in our songs.”
Hwabaraty believes that music is more than sound it is spiritual preservation.
“When we perform imbube, when we play the djembe, we are calling on our ancestors. Our rhythms have memory. They speak of migration, of celebration, of resistance. I don’t just want to entertain but I want to awaken.”
It’s why his sound is layered with traditional African instruments like the mbira, the balafon, the kalimba while carefully balanced with the tempo and textures of modern production.
“It’s not fusion just for trend. It’s cultural integrity meeting innovation.”
‘I Am Jelimana’: Reclaiming African Masculinity & Identity
One of Hwabaraty’s most defining works is his one-man play “I Am Jelimana”, written by Butshilo Nleya. Set in the 1960s, it tells the story of Jeqe, a young boy navigating tradition, colonial disruption, and personal transformation.
“Jeqe is all of us — confused, spiritual, hungry to belong. I wanted to tell a story that honored African masculinity in a way that isn’t toxic, but searching, tender, spiritual.”
Performed in Canada to a global audience, the play wasn’t just theater — it was a re-education. Zimbabwean rhythms became the backdrop to stories of migration, struggle, and identity.
“People cried in the audience. Not because they were African, but because the story felt human. That’s what I want my art to do, to connect souls.”
Africa Is Community: From Stages to Workshops
During his Canadian tour, Hwabaraty wasn’t just performing. He was teaching. From drum workshops at L’Arche London to intercultural jam sessions in Toronto, he brought Africa’s heartbeat to children, elders, immigrants, and refugees.
“I believe in giving. When I step off stage, I still wear my culture. I still drum, I still speak Ndebele, I still share. That’s the whole point of being African. You are never alone.”
One of the highlights was “Thina Siyakhala,” a collaborative piece with local artists in London, Ontario. The song spoke of shared sorrow, healing, and cultural pride.
What Africa Day Means to Hwabaraty
“It’s more than a commemoration. It’s my wife’s birthday too, so we always celebrate. But on a deeper level, Africa Day is a chance to remind ourselves that we’re not behind, we’re ancestral. We’re foundational.”
He adds:
“We are the beginning. Our stories, our instruments, our proverbs , they are all reminders that Africa isn’t just the past. Africa is the blueprint.”
Advice to the African Artist: “Know yourself. Then share yourself.”
For Hwabaraty, African artists must resist imitation and embrace introspection.
“Don’t try to be Burna Boy or Kendrick. Be you. Listen to your grandmother’s stories. Learn your clan praise names. That’s your gold.”
He calls for collaboration across countries and disciplines:
“Let the graphic designer in Harare work with the poet in Dakar. Let the filmmaker in Lagos score with mbira music. Let’s interweave.”
What’s Next for Hwabaraty?
He’s dreaming big:
- A regional version of “I Am Jelimana” staged in local languages.
- A documentary on the role of ancestral instruments in modern therapy.
- A youth arts center in Bulawayo focused on cultural exchange and healing
Watch I Am Jelimana: https://youtu.be/sdsMUD_tx3A
