The Sunday News
Nkosilesisa Ncube, Sunday Life Reporter
THE lives of two of Bulawayo’s prominent rappers, Cal_Vin and POY are soon to be featured in a biopic, focusing on Zimbabwean hip-hop culture.
The film is likely to be released in November, according to its producer and scriptwriter — Nigel Ndlovu.
The documentary, which is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and includes the likes of Mzoe7, Guluva7 and UK-based Big C, centres on the Bulawayo hip-hop music journey and its history, pioneers, past and present rappers.
The biopic also centres at the victories, challenges and culture of the music industry in the City of Kings.
Ndlovu said he decided to do the documentary after realising a gap in detailing the local hip-hop industry.
“I’ve been around a lot of hip-hop MCs and I realised that there has been no story told about them. Many rappers, particularly from Bulawayo, were presented with Zim hip-hop awards and no one told that story, so I decided to do so,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu has been shadowing different artistes at last month’s Bigger than hip-hop and this month’s Made in Bulawayo Concert, as part of his research.
The biopic will particularly help young aspiring hip-hop artistes.
“There are so many links on social media of young people uploading their music, but we never get to see them grow into matured, full time artistes.
“I’m sure there is something they are not doing right so by telling their story, artistes will educate younger, up-and-coming rappers on how hip-hop functions, as both an art and a business,” said Ndlovu.
The biopic, whose initial production started in June this year, is set to be distributed at international film festivals.
“I plan to screen the documentary once or twice locally then take it to international festivals and I am currently in talks with distributers in Los Angeles in the US,” Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu started making films in 2012 and to date, he has worked on short films and music videos.
@nkocykay
