From the quiet mining village of Winlock in Gwanda, known to locals as “Wilonki”, to the bustling creative energy of Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, Pardon Dube, widely known as Slayt, has built a reputation as one of Zimbabwe’s boldest self-taught visual storytellers. His journey from cellphone photography to highly conceptual, aesthetically distinct work is a story of vision, adaptability and relentless creative drive.
Slayt’s relationship with art began long before he picked up a camera. As a child, he was a whirlwind of creativity, dancing, drawing, making beats, designing, constantly translating his vivid imagination into tangible forms. When he started photographing birthdays, music events and family moments on his phone, it was less about equipment and more about capturing something others overlooked. Meeting someone in the music industry who owned a camera but barely used it changed everything. Seeing the difference in quality sparked the idea that this could be more than a hobby, it could be a brand, a profession, a statement.
Lacking his own professional gear, Slayt became a master of resourcefulness, collaborating with other creatives to gain access to different camera systems and learning how to get the best out of whatever was in his hands. Even today, some of his most acclaimed work has been shot and edited entirely on a cellphone, a fact he shares with equal parts pride and caution, knowing the industry sometimes undervalues talent without expensive tools. But for him, skill, vision and story will always outweigh specs.
His photographs have an instantly recognisable mood, cool-toned, surreal and quietly cinematic. Whether it’s the energy of a street scene, the stillness of nature, or a carefully staged concept, his work aims to make people see parts of life they’d otherwise rush past. Street photography is often spontaneous for him, but intentional shoots follow a thoughtful process: develop the concept, scout the location, set the date, execute, then bring it to life in post-production with Adobe Lightroom.
Music production introduced him to a network of artists, many of whom became his earliest photography subjects and later his clients. Social media, especially WhatsApp, has been a game-changer in growing his reach. Understanding that many Zimbabweans engage more there than on platforms like Instagram, he uses it strategically, sharing his catalogue, status updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses directly with potential clients.
From shooting and editing entire music videos solo on a cellphone to collaborating with other creatives without ever being intimidated by new equipment, Slayt’s journey has been defined by adaptability and ambition. He’s still chasing his “breakthrough” moment, but the goals are clear: work on a blockbuster film, create his own movie and establish BME Entertainment, a hub and production house for creatives across disciplines.
For Slayt, photography is more than capturing an image, it’s preserving culture, sparking appreciation for overlooked beauty and offering people a new way to see their own environment. He believes visuals can be as powerful as words in driving social, cultural and political change. His advice to aspiring creatives is simple: don’t be afraid to start, don’t undermine yourself and keep your craft honest. View his work: https://linktr.ee/slayt101
A great article written about a great man. Ive had the privilege to follow along Slayt’s journey as a friend and confidant.
He has never failed to inspire and motivate not just by mere words but by his impeccable work ethic and sheer determination to overcome insurmountable odds.
There’s no limit to what he can achieve and I’m here for it 🫡