Multilingual Rapper Aufait Carves Her Own Path from the Streets of Zimbabwe
Listen Ndlovu
Perfect Thandolwenkosi Sibanda, better known by her stage name Aufait, is a rapper whose journey blends hunger, hustle, and hope into sharp lyrical poetry. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, she rhymes in English, French, Shona, and Ndebele — a multilingual flow that mirrors both her roots and global vision.
For Aufait, music started as a survival mechanism. “I began writing raps as a way of processing my own story — hunger, hustle, city life, and everything in between,” she says. What started as expression quickly grew into identity. Today, her art has become a platform where she stands tall for her people and his city.
Her sounds are an energetic mix of hard hip-hop beats and Afro-infused rhythms, a style some describe as “urban poetry.” But for Aufait, it is much more, “It is survival music inspired by the streets, conversations, and the lived reality of day-to-day resilience. It is lion and honeybadger energy — raw, fearless, and unfiltered.”
Like many unregistered artists, Aufait has faced challenges in navigating an industry where paperwork often determines access to platforms. “A lot of events and opportunities require registration before they even hear your sound,” she says. Beyond bureaucracy, she has had to self-fund her projects, from studio time to visuals.
Still, obstacles have not slowed her down. She pushes forward using social media, collaborations, community venues such as Alliance Française, and the oldest network of all: word of mouth. “My music spreads through people who connect with it and share it,” she notes.
On stage, Aufait is in her element. She has performed at World Music Day and for the City, sharing the spotlight with artists like Holy Ten, while also collaborating with international acts such as Mali’s Marssi Essomba and Algeria’s TFK BT. His audiences connect deeply with his authenticity — especially when he performs his track “Fosta,” a raw commentary on systems that trap the youth. “Performing it live always hits differently because people feel seen in the message,”she says.
Looking ahead, Aufait knows registration and industry formalities are inevitable steps. “Registering is not just paperwork — it unlocks doors, royalties, and structure. It is part of my next chapter as I grow my brand,” she reflects.
For now, she is building steadily from the ground up. “My advice to young or unregistered artists is simple: don’t wait for permission to create. Use what you have, sharpen your craft, and build your community step by step. Registration will come, but your authenticity is the real foundation.”
