TOTC Live! — A sonic offering from Ulenni Okandlovu
Patience Musa
Some events are born out of opportunity. Others, out of necessity.
Then there are those rare ones that seem to emerge from the very soul and spirit of a place — thoughtfully imagined, carefully built, and humming with quiet purpose. TOTC Live! feels like one of those.
Curated by artist, vocalist, and creative director Ulenni Okandlovu, this gathering is less of a concert and more of a conversation between disciplines — a weaving together of music, visuals, space, and the unspoken needs of a creative community that’s been yearning for something different.
What’s being offered isn’t just entertainment. It’s something deeper: an intentional space for sound, experimentation, and connection. It’s the kind of thing you stumble into once, and then keep chasing forever.
There’s no heavy branding here. No overstimulation. Just music done well, visuals that know when to whisper and when to demand your attention, and a deep respect for the artist and the audience alike.
Ulenni has long lived at the edge of Zimbabwe’s creative mainstream — not outside of it, but always nudging it to expand, to stretch. From his work as lead vocalist for Bantu Spaceship — a band that’s played stages across Europe and Southern Africa — to his immersive work with Fabrik Party Convention, he’s always seemed more interested in shaping culture than simply participating in it.
When I asked him what made this particular offering important to him, he paused. Then said:
“I’ve been working on this quietly for a while. The idea was to build something that’s not just about performing, but about presence. About listening. About creating a setting where we all show up differently — artists, audience, everyone.”
The performance will include the first full outing of Ulenni’s new collaborative project: Southern Hemis Co., a rotating ensemble of musicians and sonic collaborators. It’s music that pulls from many places — Afro-futurism, electronic textures, deep-rooted rhythms — and yet refuses to be pinned down by genre.
Also contributing to the night are two artists worth your full attention. Tinofireyi Zhou, a quiet but unmistakable force on the decks, is known for deeply layered DJ sets that move from dub to Afrobeat to bossa nova and back again — all woven together through cassette, vinyl, and digital formats. His sets don’t just fill space; they shape it.
And then there’s Kyla Black — a singer, songwriter, and producer who carries her own storm. Her voice glides between softness and strength, always laced with an experimental edge that keeps things unpredictable. There’s a visual element to everything she does — even when she’s standing still, you can feel the frame.
The timing of this couldn’t feel more aligned. Globally, music and fashion are in conversation in bold new ways — from Lagos to Copenhagen, artists are blurring the boundaries, opting for feeling over formula, and building platforms that are intimate, raw, and unforgettable. TOTC Live fits right into this moment, but also resists being defined by it.
The event will take place in a carefully chosen space that is yet to be announced. Not overly polished, but considered. Everything from the sound to the light will be tuned just right.
TOTC LIVE! is more than an event. It’s a turning point, a challenge to the cultural status quo, and a lovingly curated experience where music, fashion, and story merge. It’s for the curious, the bold, the dreamers — and anyone who believes that the future of Zimbabwean sound is bright, textured, and globally relevant.
Backed by the British Council #SouthernAfricaArts, the Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe, Obscura Films, Design Life Africa, and Skeyi & Strobo, the show already has the right kind of allies.
And yes, it’s happening soon — quietly entering the calendar on Sunday 13 July, making its mark not with noise, but with meaning.
You’ll know if it’s for you. And if it is — come ready.
