Jabulile Kyu Sigola’s Part Time Human Explores the Work of Becoming

Buhlebenkosi Nkomo

Bulawayo-based creative strategist and media producer Jabulile Kyu Sigola, also known as Kyu, is carving out a distinct space in Zimbabwe’s podcasting landscape with Part Time Human (PTH), a conversation-driven show focused on identity, emotional depth, and personal growth.

Produced under Hue 80, the creative production company he co-founded, Part Time Human positions itself within a growing African audio storytelling movement that prioritises reflection and lived experience over performance and fast-paced content.

Kyu says the idea for the podcast is shaped by his experience across corporate, government, and creative sectors, where he observed a recurring pattern of people performing expected roles while suppressing their authentic selves.

“At the core of it, we’re all role-playing what’s expected,” he says. “And we’re just letting our human bits drown. They only come out in small talk and quiet moments, and those, for a second, unite us.”
This observation informs the podcast’s central premise.

“You are not one person. You are many versions trying to agree,” Kyu says. “Being human, full time, means staying present, even when it’s uncomfortable. I’m still learning that.”

The podcast’s title reflects what he describes as a shared reality.
“We’re all part time at this, part time at being present, part time at being consistent, and part time at showing up the way we know we’re capable of,” he says. “That’s not a failure. That’s the human condition.”

Unlike many podcasts that focus on productivity or curated success stories, Part Time Human adopts a slower format. Episodes explore identity, relationships, emotional intelligence, and purpose, with an emphasis on what Kyu describes as “the inner work that rarely trends but consistently matters.”

“There is a lot of surface-level conversation, entertainment, opinions, motivation,” he says. “But there is less space for reflection. Less space for people to sit and think through their lives in real time.”

The first season, titled Becoming Calm, centres on self-awareness and introspection. Drawing on his background in psychology, Kyu structures conversations to encourage stillness and honest engagement.

“Calm is the baseline,” he says. “If someone can’t sit still with themselves, every other conversation stays shallow. Calmness precedes honesty. It makes you reflect.”
Season One features voices from Zimbabwe’s creative sector, including fashion designer and Bakhar founder Yolanda Ngwenya, visual artist Abigail Hunda, and award-winning poet, playwright, and filmmaker Chioniso Tsikisayi.

Kyu says these conversations also inform his own personal development.
“As I dig into these episodes, I’m digging into myself,” he says. “We’re never fully done. We’re all works in progress.”
He highlights lessons drawn from guests, including the importance of self-compassion, navigating social and financial pressures such as black tax, and challenging inherited belief systems.
The podcast reflects broader themes within Zimbabwe’s creative landscape, which Kyu describes as grounded in lived experience.

“Zimbabwe’s creative scene carries real stories, loss, resilience, culture, pressure,” he says. “These are not abstract topics. That makes the conversations honest.”
He adds that creative industries often allow for vulnerability in ways more formal sectors do not.

Bulawayo, he notes, plays a defining role in shaping the podcast’s tone.
“People speak directly. There is less performance,” he says. “The stories come with weight, family, history, community. That shapes the podcast.”

While Part Time Human continues to grow across Zimbabwe and the African continent, Kyu emphasises that its value lies beyond visibility metrics.

“People choose visible progress over internal work,” he says. “Even when the internal work is what actually matters.”
While initially framed as Becoming Calm, Kyu now sees the first season as exploring identity and performance, focusing on what lies beneath the roles people play.

Looking ahead, Kyu says future seasons will expand beyond individual introspection to explore broader systems shaping identity and lived experience.
“Season one focuses on the self,” he says. “Season two moves into a stream of consciousness, looking at bigger systems we can’t always control or lie about.”

Part Time Human is available on major streaming platforms and is structured as “Tracks” within “Albums,” reflecting Kyu’s background in creative production.

At its core, the podcast explores a single idea:
“We’re all becoming,” Kyu says. “The point is to be honest about it.”