T3rry Tempo Pays Tribute to Late Bulawayo Social Media Personality Talent Masuku With New Song

Harare-based Bulawayo musician T3rry Tempo, whose real name is Terrence K Sibanda, has paid tribute to late Bulawayo social media personality Talent Masuku through a song titled Talent. The tribute reflects the strong impression Masuku made on people in Bulawayo through his outspoken personality, confidence and controversial public antics. Masuku died at Mpilo Central Hospital in May after becoming a familiar figure across the city. Although his behaviour often attracted attention and controversy, he also brought moments of entertainment and joy to many people who followed his activities. T3rry Tempo said Masuku’s fearlessness and confidence inspired him to create a song that celebrates the qualities he remembers most about him.

T3rry Tempo said Masuku’s willingness to act without being held back by public opinion was a major reason he decided to record the tribute. According to the musician, Masuku had a strong sense of confidence that allowed him to face situations without worrying about embarrassment or criticism. His actions sometimes frightened people and caused disruption, but they also made him a widely recognised personality in Bulawayo. T3rry Tempo said this combination of controversy, confidence and the ability to bring people joy made Masuku stand out. He wanted the song Talent to capture that distinctive spirit rather than simply focus on the controversies surrounding the late social media personality.

The musician said Masuku influenced the way he approaches life and encouraged him to become less concerned about public judgement. T3rry Tempo described the central message of the song as one of courage, confidence and refusing to allow fear to dictate personal choices. He said Masuku inspired him to take life on directly and to avoid being controlled by the fear of embarrassment or humiliation. This perspective forms an important part of the message behind Talent and gives the tribute a personal meaning for the musician. Rather than presenting the song only as a memorial, T3rry Tempo uses Masuku’s example to express his own attitude towards confidence and living without excessive concern about what other people may think.

T3rry Tempo also revealed that his connection with Masuku goes back to a time before the latter became widely known on social media. The musician said they grew up in the same neighbourhood when he visited his grandmother in Emganwini. This meant that he knew Masuku before his activities turned him into a familiar figure across Bulawayo. T3rry Tempo said observing Masuku over the years allowed him to notice qualities that remained with him even though the two never formally spoke to each other. Among those qualities was a strong refusal to fear embarrassment, humiliation or the opinions of other people.

Despite never having a formal conversation with Masuku, T3rry Tempo said the late personality still left a lasting impression on him. He remembered Masuku as a confident person who treated people in the same way regardless of who they were. The musician described him as someone who could be seen as a threat by many people while not necessarily being a danger to them. This distinction reflects the complicated public image Masuku developed in Bulawayo, where his outspoken behaviour and controversial antics attracted both concern and amusement. For T3rry Tempo, however, the lasting lesson was Masuku’s confidence and his willingness to remain true to his personality in public.

The tribute has also been extended to a visual production, with T3rry Tempo completing a music video for Talent. The video was shot in Harare and includes clips of Masuku during some of his activities in Bulawayo. Including those clips connects the new song directly to the personality being remembered and gives viewers visual context for the tribute. It also brings together T3rry Tempo’s current musical work with footage representing Masuku’s presence in the city. The project therefore serves both as a song and as a visual remembrance of a Bulawayo figure who became widely recognised through social media.

T3rry Tempo is also seeking wider exposure for the tribute song beyond his existing audience. He said discussions were underway regarding a promotion contract involving Bulawayo bloggers and radio stations. The intention is to have Talent played across radio stations in Zimbabwe while also promoting the song through online platforms and bloggers. The musician hopes the tribute can eventually reach audiences outside Zimbabwe as well. Such promotion would give the song a broader opportunity to introduce listeners to the story and personality behind the tribute.

The release of Talent adds another musical response to the loss of a public personality whose presence became closely associated with Bulawayo’s social media culture. Masuku’s outspoken character and controversial antics made him a recognisable figure, while his confidence and ability to attract attention left a different impression on different people. T3rry Tempo has chosen to focus on the personal inspiration he drew from Masuku rather than simply documenting the controversies that surrounded him. His song presents Masuku as someone whose fearlessness encouraged him to live more confidently and to care less about embarrassment and public judgement. In doing so, the tribute reflects how a person can leave a lasting influence on others even without having a close personal relationship with them.

For T3rry Tempo, Talent is ultimately a way of preserving the memory of someone who made a strong impression on him and on the wider Bulawayo community. The song draws on memories from Masuku’s life in Emganwini, his rise as a social media personality and the confidence that defined his public image. The accompanying music video strengthens that connection by incorporating footage of Masuku in Bulawayo. As efforts continue to promote the song through Zimbabwean radio stations and bloggers, the tribute could introduce his story to an even wider audience. T3rry Tempo’s final message is simple and personal, Rest in Peace Talent.