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Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

VICTORIA Falls multi-award-winning praise poet Obert Dube recently performed at various events in Southampton, UK to mark the Black Month History celebrations.

He was invited by The United Voice of Africans Association (TUVAA) to travel to the UK where he spent the whole of last month performing in that country at events like the Black Businesses, Arts and Music event (BBAM) festival.

This was the first time the well-travelled praise poet has travelled and performed in the UK.

He has been to Germany and several African countries on invitation before.

“This is totally exciting to see Victoria Falls’ talent reach international heights, this is the first time for Obert Dube to perform in the UK, and we are sure he will wow the crowd with his talent. We are proud that the artist is flying the Vic Falls flag high,” read a message posted on Dube’s Facebook page.

In an interview, he said: “I was invited to perform in Southampton City Council at the Mayor’s Parlour for Black Month History celebrations. The Mayor of the City of Southampton Dave Shields attended the event and invited you to his office to sign his book of visitors,” he said.

Dube is grateful to a number of organisations and individuals who facilitated his travel and stay.

Land of Grace Tours, a local company in Victoria Falls provided transport to the Victoria Falls Airport where he boarded a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa with a ticket paid for by Kingdom Blue Funerals.

TUVAA paid for the Johannesburg to UK flight ticket, insurance and accommodation while Binga Gas, a company in Johannesburg owned by Mr Dumisani Ndlovu of Chibila in Binga catered for expenses such as transport and accommodation incurred during visa application and other needs while in South Africa.

“I was there the whole of October which is Black History Month. I met the Southampton Mayor and shared the stage with Busi Mhlanga, our own Zimbabwean who is based in London. I performed in Southampton (BBAM) and Harlow on October 5 which was Black History Month celebrations,” said Dube.

In 2022 Dube was invited to take part in the International Afrika Expo Festival (IAEF) in Tubingen, Germany.

He has been to Sadc countries as well as Kenya, Cameroon, ESwatini, and others through his poetry.

-@ncubeleon