Bulawayo Set to Come Alive as "50 Dates at the Theatre" Kicks Off Tonight

Posted by Admin on 2025-08-19 12:10:33 | Last Updated by admin on 2025-10-31 05:29:53

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By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA 

Tonight, Bulawayo takes centre stage as 50 Dates At The Theatre officially kicks off at the Bulawayo Theatre, celebrating the life and legacy of Saimon Mambazo Phiri, popularly known as Mbazo.

The cultural icon turns 50 this year, and instead of a private celebration, he has chosen to gift the city with 50 consecutive nights of music, theatre, dance, poetry, and art.

The curtain rises this evening, Tuesday, August 19 at 7PM, with a star-studded programme featuring Msiz’Kay, Simunye Simunye, Casa Dell Armonia x Michael Makatini, Lubelihle Tshuma and Bayanda Khumbuza, We Create Africa, Jabulani Arts, Indosakusa, and rapper Asaph alongside Sound of the City by Kwela Initiative 2025. Donna N will host the night, with Bryce DJ Klasiq on the decks. Tickets are pegged at just $5 per show, making the celebration accessible to a wide audience.

This milestone journey was officially launched last Friday, August 15, at the same venue, where Mbazo outlined his vision of using his 50th birthday not only as a personal landmark but also as a gift to the city’s creative community.

At its heart, 50 Dates At The Theatre is both a personal milestone and a communal festival. The programme, which runs from August 19 to November 1, will showcase an exciting mix of reimagined classics, fresh premieres, and experimental works. Importantly, it creates space for emerging talent, giving young creatives a rare opportunity to share the same stage with celebrated acts. In a city where accusations of “gatekeeping” in the arts are common, this initiative is being hailed as a breath of fresh air.

The roster includes collaborations with Siyaya Arts, Sabela Music Projects, Umdumo Wesizwe, and productions that have made waves on international stages such as WOMAD and Glastonbury Festival.

For Mbazo, this project crowns a three-decade-long journey in the arts. Starting in the early 1990s with the globally acclaimed Siyaya ensemble, he has since evolved into one of Bulawayo’s leading cultural custodians, contributing to the Bulawayo Arts Awards, mentoring new talent, and curating groundbreaking productions. 

As the first show kicks off tonight, the message is clear: this is more than a birthday celebration, it is a cultural revolution unfolding on Bulawayo’s grandest stage.