Creative Visionary in the Mould of Obert Dube

Human imagination and emotion expressed in a highly artistic, expressive and captivating way where the use of words rhyme and stylistic devices are carefully selected is a field where Obert Dube, the Pan African poet is a reigning star. He is also a comedian, better known as Futhi Nikisi, a Director of Ceremonies, a philanthropist, a cultural activist and a researcher whose focus is mainly on traditional and cultural practices. He is a multi-talented and multi-lingual creative who speaks the following languages fluently, IsiNdebele, ChiShona, Tonga, Nambya, Tjikalanga, Nyanja, Isiswati, Isixhosa, IsiZulu and English. He can also speak basic Sotho, Tswana and Swahilli. His Motto is ” Clients’ satisfaction is my priority”.

Obert Dube was born on 15 May 1984 in Matabeleland North province of Zimbabwe, Lupane District, Dandanda ward in Mthenjwa village. He is largely involved in poetry with more than 8 years as a professional poet and is still going on strong. He has however been practicing since 1993 as a young boy in primary school at grade 3 level. He attended Kenyandavu primary school, Siamagoza secondary school and Mosi oa Tunya high school.

His journey in the performing arts started in primary school where he was a drama actor, he later developed a strong zest for one of the traditional music genres largely associated with Matabeleland and Bulawayo provinces of Zimbabwe, that is, Isicathamiya, popularly known as Imbube. He was one of the Imbube juniors for a group called Ilifa lendulo. Imbube then became his area of specialty from primary school to secondary school.

When he relocated from Lupane to Victora Falls in 2004 he met one of the Ilifa lendulo group members, Ndabezinhle Sibanda, they had already rebranded to Amahlosi asendle, he became part of the group from 2004 until 2017. Ndabezinhle Sibanda, the leader for Amahlosi asendle encouraged him to do poetry because he had spotted a huge strength that could take him to the highest level of excellence in the field, he said he was too talkative and could fit well in poetry. This is how he transitioned from Imbube to a now renowned, fully fletched poet, Obert Dube.

His sources of inspiration who are his role models include Ndabezinhle Sibanda, Jeys Marabini (Afrocentric musician), Bhekumuzi Luthuli (the late South African Maskandi musician), Roland Sibanda (the headmaster who forced him to do poetry).

Obert has published 9 poetry albums, these are Uhambo lwami, Ulova, Half time, Iqiniso, Ngile Stress, Gadla, Ezesikhiwa, My Journey and Mental Therapy. Gadla features popular poets and poetesses who are Awakhiwe, Future Dube, Albert Nyathi, Sithandazile Dube, Prince Mazilankatha and Bongani Ncube. He has also published 2 novels tittled Ichibi Lezinkondlo and the one called E Lupane.

Obert has exhibited his poetry artistry on different platforms locally and internationally.

In Germany he performed at the Africa Umoja Festival in Stuttgart in Tubingen where he was also the Director of Ceremonies.

Obert has participated at the Zanzibar, Sauti Za Busara Festival where he was the first Zimbabwean and first non-Tanzanian Director of Ceremony for the event and first poet to perform.

In Ghana he took part in the All Africa youth conference as a poet and a presenter where he had the honour to officially present the President of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the people for his official opening remarks. In Ghana he also met the Ghana’s Youth and Sports Minister, Mustapha Yusif, a well-known international footballer Asamoah Gyan who was also one of the presenters and Julius Malema who had come for the conference as one of the speakers.

In Kenya he was invited by a Kenyan Lawyer and Activist, Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba to explain more about his works as a powerful poet and a highly dedicated philanthropist, he also participated in the All-Africa youth conference and the Mystery publishers awards in Kenya.

In Cameroon, Obert was one of the invited poets who performed during the United Africa for Economic Empowerment (UNAFEE) Festival and awards.

In the Kingdom of Eswatini Obert attended the Africa day in 2015, Cultural day in 2023 and the Africa day celebrations in 2023 held at Sibebe Resort.

In Botswana, Obert performed at the Caracal Festival, DJ Sanchez welcome back show and Isintu sethu festival.

In Zambia he performed at the Zimbabwe – Zambia Malaria Awareness in 2012 and at the Lubasi orphanage home in 2023.

In South Africa Obert performed at the African Chief’s conference in 2016, South Africa Traditional Music Achievement (SATMA) in 2022, the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo commemorations in 2017, Bongani Ncube Album launch and at the Amaqhawanentaba Fm Music Awards in 2022.

In Zimbabwe he has participated in several events that include the following the Zimbabwe community ownership share trust in 2013, the inauguration of Chief Mswigana, Chief Hwange, Chief Mathuphula, burial of Chief Mvuthu, official opening of John Landa Nkomo high school, Death of John Landa Nkomo, unveiling of Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Ramatsatsi Nkomo statue and street, Roots Africa in 2015 where he shared the stage with the late Oliver Mtukudzi, official launch of the Ethiopian Airways at the Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo international airport in 2022, National Culture day in Binga Kariangwe in 2023, National Arts Merit Awards, Harare in 2023, Insurance and Pension Commission (IPEC)in 2023 and 2024, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) donation in 2022, the 2023 Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) mining Indaba. He also performed at Imiklomelo Ka Dakamela 2024 event as a Poet and Director of Ceremony among other noteworthy events.

He has done collaborations with Kenyan poets, Tanzania poet, Botswana Poet, Jeys Marabini, Albert Nyathi, Awakhiwe, South African Poetess and Thembi Ndiweni.

Some of the illustrious highlights of his career that gives him so much love for what he does include seeing Prof PLO Lumumba post on his page, looking for him and later being honoured with an invitation to visit him at his home as well as meeting Jacob Zuma, the then President of the Republic of South Africa.

To him, his works are a calling, that is why he does not struggle to produce perfect projects where he targets every tribe, race and all age groups.

In recognition of his outstanding works in the field of poetry, Obert Dube has received numerous accolades that include these that follow;

The National Arts Merit Awards, NAMA, Outstanding poet in 2015, 2022 and 2023. The Best Poet award conferred by Amaqhawanentaba Fm Music Awards, in South Africa in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Amaqhawanentaba FM Music awards, Best male Artist in 2023. The Best Poet in the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards, RoilBAA in 2021 and 2022. Obert also received the Best Pan African Poet of the year 2020, 2021 and 2023 at the United Africa For Economic Empowerment, UNAFEE held in Douala, Cameron. In 2016 during the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Day Celebration competition, Obert was honoured with a Best Performer accolade. In 2022 he was honoured with the Best poet award at the Imiklomelo Ka Dakamela event. He also received the 2024 award from Imiklomelo Ka Dakamela in appreciation of his inspirational works to many, young and old. His poetry book titled Ichibi lezinkondlo led him to a 2022 NAMA nomination under the Outstanding poetry Book of the year category. He also received nominations for his poetry albums, Uhambo lwami in 2015, Ngile Stress in 2022 and Gadla in 2023. NgileStress and Gadla poetry albums were also nominated as the best by the Roil BAA. The following poetry albums have also received awards from Amaqhawanentaba FM Music awards, Isiniso, Ngile Stress and Gadla. These are just some of the honours he has received.

As a philanthropist, Obert has done incredible humanitarian works that include paying school fees and donating stationary to the needy children and also take school drop outs back to school. He spotted a 15-year-old girl selling wild fruits to truck drivers along the road, he took her back to school and is currently studying at Mlamuli secondary school. This year, 2024, he has paid school fees for 137 children.

Obert also assists the needy elderly people in communities by donating groceries to them. He has donated groceries to a 107-year-old grandmother who lives in Jambezi, Chikanda Kubi area close to Victoria Falls, he also made donations in the form of groceries, blankets and clutches to an 84 year old granny in Lupane Matshokotsha area.

During the covid 19 era, Obert was actively involved in ensuring a good livelihood for the needy where he donated groceries to 20 families and 10 elderly grannies, some of them have passed on.

Every Wednesday, Obert Dube has a “Family Time” program live on his Facebook page where he helps those who are looking for their loved ones, here he connects families and more than 1000 people so far have been assisted. Zimbabweans, South Africans, Zambians and those from Botswana have benefited from the program. One of the people he has assisted includes a 90 year old lady who used to stay in Jambezi, Lumbora who was originally from Zambia whose relatives came to take her back to her home.

Obert Dube also does face to face interviews with the elderly people aged 80 and above, here his aim is to get an understanding on how they used to live and how such kind of a lifestyle led them to live for so many years. He asks them to explain why they used to do certain things the way they did and link that to what is happening now and what the younger generation can learn from such practices. Through such intriguing conversations with the elderly people he believes that one can get to learn and appreciate history straight from the horses’ mouth without googling, people also get enlightened about certain traditional norms and values and how they remain applicable even today for societal betterment.

Obert Dube is indeed a hard-working, energetic, electrified and goal oriented artist, always hungry and desires to offer extremely best services and to learn from the best.