In the vibrant heart of Mzilikazi where life is stitched together with laughter, music and the endless hum of community, Mhondiwa “SaDee” Mhepo grew up surrounded by the rhythm of a massive, tightly-knit family. The fourth of seven children and part of an even wider clan that ensured that family gatherings were grand productions in themselves, SaDee’s earliest memories are steeped in the colour and togetherness.
His first love was soccer, chasing dreams on dusty township fields with the determination of a boy who believed anything was possible. But as high school unfolded, something shifted. The world of performing arts began to call to him, thanks to early influences like Beater Mangete and Herbert Phiri. Watching Stitsha cracked open his imagination, forever changing how he saw art, performance and storytelling.
By the mid-2000s, SaDee had sharpened his eye as an art enthusiast. Yet, he began noticing something missing in mainstream publications, images often failed to carry the emotional truth of their subjects. The raw power of a subtle glance, the story hidden in posture, the electricity in a fleeting expression, these were often overlooked. He decided to bridge that gap, taking it personally. Photography became his mission and arts and concert photography, his great love.
But SaDee’s storytelling didn’t start with the camera. As a boy, he was the one everyone wanted to hear from, even if they had lived the very moment he was describing. He could weave a classroom prank or a playground scene into a vivid tale laced with rhythm, humour and colour. Sometimes, he told bold fictions too, Gothic tales, absurd jokes, fantastical worlds that left people imagining long after the laughter faded.
Today, SaDee still tells stories, only his voice has transformed. The pen became a lens. His camera speaks in light and shadow, in stillness and motion. Each frame is a sentence, each project a chapter. He hasn’t stopped telling the truth, he has simply learnt to capture it visually.
Rooted deeply in Bulawayo’s cultural and creative pulse, his work reflects the resilience, joy and artistry of his community. His style, what he calls poetic realism, blends honesty with tenderness, producing images that feel lived-in, layered and emotionally resonant. He is especially drawn to the arts, entertainment and the unfiltered beauty of everyday life.
Over the years, his lens has become a bridge, connecting past and present, memory and moment. Through projects like LensFest, he has not only showcased his own vision but also opened doors for emerging photographers, creating a collaborative space for creativity to thrive. LensFest made its debut in 2024 and the response was electric. From seasoned professionals to emerging talents, the festival drew creatives from across Zimbabwe and beyond. But while the first edition has passed, the planning never stops. Each year brings new layers, new voices and new visions.
The idea for LensFest came from SaDee’s observation that while photographers were documenting culture, emotion and truth, they lacked a dedicated space to connect, grow and be celebrated. LensFest was born from that need, to honour the lens as both witness and storyteller. At its core, it is about capturing culture and crafting futures, a space where photography meets education, inspiration and community building. The goal is to elevate the art form, empower creatives with practical tools and foster a network that supports both artistic and commercial growth.
Planning such a festival is a multi-layered process that involves curating speakers and panelists from diverse genres such as wedding, documentary, fashion and photojournalism; securing partnerships with institutions like the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe; designing workshops and exhibitions that blend technical training with cultural storytelling; conducting outreach and invitations to photographers, storytellers and media professionals; and handling the logistics and sponsorships, from venue setup to branding and hospitality.
While photographers are the heartbeat of LensFest, it welcomes a broader creative family, filmmakers, digital storytellers, models, journalists and cultural curators. The aim is cross-pollination, letting ideas flow between disciplines to enrich the visual narrative. Participation is through a hybrid model of open calls for portfolio submissions, direct invitations to standout creatives and changemakers and community nominations where peers recommend voices worth spotlighting. Selection is based on originality, impact and alignment with the festival’s theme.
Participants can expect hands-on workshops on lighting, editing and business strategy; panel discussions with industry leaders; photo walks and exhibitions showcasing local talent; networking sessions with potential clients, collaborators and funders and mentorship clinics for emerging photographers. The benefits for photographers include skills development, exposure to new markets and access to grants and business tools. For the wider creative community, LensFest offers a shared space for dialogue, opportunities to collaborate across genres and a deeper appreciation for the role of visual storytelling in shaping culture.
Collaboration is at the heart of the festival. Partnerships with institutions like Intwasa Arts Festival, Cart (a photography gear dealer), PhotoHouse, Thrive Africa and branding company Sign Xpress, along with media houses and international guests such as Farhan Achhava of Pro Albums, bring global insights while rooting the festival in local relevance. In the coming years, SaDee envisions regional editions across Zimbabwe, youth-focused LensLabs in schools and community centres, personalised workshops in churches, schools, companies and international exchanges with festivals in Southern Africa and beyond.
For Bulawayo, the aim is to position the city as a hub for visual arts innovation, reclaiming narratives, celebrating heritage and building an ecosystem where creativity is both valued and viable. While Bulawayo is home, the stories told at LensFest deserve a global stage. The festival is ready to travel wherever there are lenses and voices ready to be heard.
For SaDee, photography is not just a profession, it’s a calling. It is a way of preserving stories that deserve to be seen, challenging stereotypes and affirming identity. His dream is to travel the continent, documenting African rituals and oral histories across generations, working alongside storytellers from all walks of life. Every time someone says, “You captured me exactly as I feel,” it affirms his mission, to make people feel seen, valued and remembered. His legacy will be one of dignity, celebration and visibility, a testament that beauty is not only found in the grand, but in the quiet poetry of everyday life.
thank you