Zim: Mental health awareness concert launched in Bulawayo

The inaugural edition was led by Bulawayo-born hip hop artist and mental health advocate Indigo Saint.

Curated by Indigo Saint, a five-time Zim Hip Hop Award winner, the concert aimed to raise awareness around mental health and offer hope through music. The project is supported by US-based radio personality Megan On The Radio, meme coin sponsor Hoppy Token, and the tech-driven investigative platform Underdog Research Channel.

“This concert is about creating hope for anyone facing mental health challenges,” Megan said “Mental health is something that affects everyone at some point. We never know what someone else is going through.”

Filmed indoors at Lil Wonderland Events, the 41-minute production features 14 songs and follows a narrative arc structured into four thematic segments: The Ego, The Heart, The Depression, and The Healing. Each section uses distinct stage designs to match its emotional tone, showcasing Indigo Saint’s theatrical approach to performance.

Indigo Saint said: “This is something I’ll continue doing solo for now, but eventually I want to involve artists from around the world. Music is an experience, but presentation can turn that into a lasting memory. I always strive to make my music performative.”

Songs like ‘Catherine’ and ‘In The Way’ confront issues of self-harm, depression, and anxiety, subjects the artist has personally battled. “I’ve lost friends, experienced depression, gone to counselling, and even started a peer-to-peer support platform. These songs reflect the full spectrum of my mental health journey.”

Indigo Saint’s artistry has gained recognition beyond Zimbabwe. In 2023, he performed at the Music In Africa ACCES festival in Kigali, Rwanda. “It was inspiring to witness how artists from across Africa express their cultures through music,” he said.

Though primarily performing in English, Indigo Saint integrates IsiNdebele in tracks such as the drill-inspired ‘Mdali’ (2023) and the 2024 release ‘Girls’, featuring Zimbabwean singer Takura. His stylistic range also includes the nostalgic love song ‘Sweet Chin Music’, which draws from 1980s IsiNdebele pop.

Citing musical influences from Bob Dylan and Nina Simone to Queen, Lauryn Hill, and André 3000, he credits both global music and film—particularly storytelling-driven A24 films—as key sources of inspiration.

The concert concludes with Vibrations and Dear Catherine, the latter dedicated to a real-life mental health practitioner who supported him in a difficult period. Accompanied by a poignant acoustic guitar solo, the song serves as a heartfelt letter of gratitude. “It’s my way of telling her how much our conversation meant to me and how far I’ve come since,” he shared.