This Thursday, hundreds of creatives from across Matabeleland South will converge in Gwanda for the highly anticipated SoCreative Sessions a landmark gathering designed to empower, connect, and inspire the region’s artistic talent. Artists, musicians, fashion designers, writers, and storytellers stretching from Gwanda, Beitbridge, Bulilima, Insiza, Matobo, Maphisa, West Nicholson and surrounding areas of Matabeleland South will get a rare opportunity to network, collaborate, and learn directly from established figures in Zimbabwe’s creative economy.

The SoCreative Sessions are set to be hosted through a partnership between the British Council, Magitare Africa, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, and the Swiss Embassy’s CreativeD initiative. The collaboration signals growing investment in decentralising arts development beyond Harare and Bulawayo, bringing high-level training and networking directly to emerging creative hubs like Gwanda.

The sessions form part of the British Council’s broader SoCreative Africa initiative, which champions sustainable creative ecosystems across the continent by equipping artists with business skills, market access, and peer networks.

Among those headlining the event is Ms Silenkosi Moyo, Regional Manager of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Moyo brings extensive experience in visual arts curation, cultural programming, and institutional support for artists across Matabeleland. She will be joined by Tariro Chaniwa, widely known as Tariro neGitare, the creative lead of Magitare Africa Trust. A musician, cultural entrepreneur, and advocate for grassroots creative enterprise, Chaniwa has been instrumental in building platforms for young artists to professionalise their craft and access new audiences.
Together, the speakers are expected to share insights on navigating the creative industry, from intellectual property and branding to funding opportunities and cross-border collaboration.

Attendees can expect a dynamic program blending masterclasses, panel discussions, and open networking. The sessions will give musicians, fashion designers, writers, visual artists, and storytellers a platform to showcase their work, exchange ideas, and learn practical strategies for turning creativity into sustainable livelihoods.

For many creatives in districts like Beitbridge, Insiza, and Maphisa, this will be one of the few opportunities to engage directly with national-level institutions and international partners without traveling to Bulawayo or Harare.

The event will be held at the Gwanda Hotel on Thursday, 30 April 2026, from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

Themorning to early afternoon format is designed to maximize participation from artists traveling from across Matabeleland South.

Matabeleland South is home to a rich tapestry of cultural expression from Ndebele and Kalanga storytelling traditions to contemporary music and fashion rooted in local identity. Yet access to formal networks, training, and markets has remained a challenge for creatives outside major cities.

By bringing SoCreative to Gwanda, the British Council and its partners are acknowledging that the future of Zimbabwe’s creative economy isn’t only in the capital.