Zimbabwean contemporary musician Fab G has paid tribute to his boyhood football club, Highlanders FC, with the release of a new single titled “iBosso Tshilamoya” as the Bulawayo football giants celebrate their 100th anniversary. The song celebrates the club’s rich history, passionate supporters and enduring place in the sporting and cultural identity of Bulawayo. For Fab G, the release is more than a musical project because it reflects a lifelong connection to a team he grew up admiring. Raised in a family of devoted Highlanders supporters, the musician developed his love for the black-and-white outfit through his father and uncles, who passed down their loyalty to Bosso. With the single set to receive its first live performance at the Bosso@100 Music Bash, Fab G hopes to give supporters an anthem they can sing together as they mark a historic milestone for their beloved club.

The release of “iBosso Tshilamoya” highlights the strong relationship between football and music in Zimbabwe, where club identities often extend beyond the pitch into family traditions, community life and popular culture. Highlanders FC, affectionately known as Bosso, holds a special place in Bulawayo, where generations of supporters have followed the team through victories, disappointments and memorable moments. For many fans, supporting the club is an important part of their identity, passed from parents to children through matchday experiences and shared celebrations. Fab G’s new single draws on this emotional connection by celebrating the people, chants and atmosphere that have helped shape the club’s legacy. By dedicating his music to Highlanders during its centenary year, the musician is contributing to the celebrations through an art form that brings supporters together.

Fab G said his attachment to Highlanders began at home, where the club’s colours and traditions were part of everyday family life. Watching his father and uncles support the team helped him understand the significance of the black-and-white jersey long before he began developing his own career in music. Their loyalty introduced him to the atmosphere surrounding Highlanders matches at Barbourfields Stadium, where supporters gather to cheer their team. The chants, drums and collective energy of the fans eventually became part of the inspiration behind his new song. For the musician, capturing these experiences in music was a way of expressing gratitude to the club and the supporters who helped shape his childhood.

“Bosso is not just a football team, it’s a culture, and it’s a religion in Bulawayo. I grew up seeing my uncles, my father, everyone in black and white at Barbourfields. Somehow, the Bosso culture was instilled in me,” Fab G said. He explained that the chants, drums and passion associated with the supporters, particularly the phrase “Siyinqaba,” inspired him to create a song that reflected the club’s spirit. His intention was to produce an anthem that fans could sing in different settings, whether they were inside the stadium, travelling in a kombi or relaxing at home. This approach places the supporters at the centre of the song rather than treating the release as a conventional commercial single. By focusing on shared experiences, Fab G hopes “iBosso Tshilamoya” will become part of the soundtrack to Highlanders’ centenary celebrations.

The musician paid careful attention to the song’s production, selecting collaborators who could help create a sound suited to Highlanders’ history and reputation. The single features vocals from Mthunzi Da Poet, whose contribution adds another voice to the tribute. Neshville handled the recording, mixing and mastering at Rock Up Studioz, ensuring that the different elements came together as a finished production. The guitar rhythm was provided by Ma-E Aparajalo, a member of the Tshibilika music group Insimbi ZeZhwane. These contributions brought together musicians and production talent to create a track intended to capture the energy of football supporters. Fab G’s choice of collaborators reflects his desire to produce a song that feels connected to the club’s character and the musical traditions of its home city.

Rather than relying heavily on electronic effects, Fab G said he wanted the song to carry a stadium atmosphere that would encourage fans to participate. Football anthems often depend on memorable melodies, strong rhythms and lyrics that supporters can easily sing together. For a club with a long history and a devoted following, this shared quality can be as important as the technical elements of the production. The musician’s decision to emphasise a stadium feel reflects his understanding of how music functions during football matches, where the voices of supporters can become a defining part of the experience. By keeping the fans’ participation in mind, he hopes the song will work both as a recorded track and as a live performance.

Fab G’s connection to Highlanders also comes from his own experience as a footballer. Before pursuing music, he played football at grassroots level and dreamed of representing the senior Bosso team. Although he did not fulfil that ambition as a player, his time in the game brought him close to individuals who later went on to wear the Highlanders jersey. Those experiences strengthened his connection to the club and gave him another reason to celebrate its centenary through music. The release of “iBosso Tshilamoya” therefore represents a different way of contributing to the team he once hoped to play for.

“I was once a soccer player with the dream to play for Bosso, but I guess you just can’t escape destiny, though I am excited that the dream was fulfilled through some of my brothers, like Peter Muduwa, who was my senior at Ajax Hotspurs,” Fab G said. He also named Xolani Mdlongwa and Arthur Ndlovu among the players he knew from his earlier footballing days who went on to represent Highlanders. Their journeys helped inspire him to find his own way of giving something back to the institution he admired. Instead of contributing on the pitch, Fab G is using his songwriting and performance skills to celebrate the club and its supporters. His story illustrates how a shared love of football can continue to shape people’s lives even when their professional paths take different directions.

The new single arrives as Highlanders FC marks a century of existence, a milestone that carries significance for generations of supporters in Bulawayo and beyond. The club’s history is closely connected to the city’s sporting culture and its wider sense of identity. Its centenary provides an opportunity to recognise the players, supporters and communities that have helped sustain its reputation over the decades. Music offers another way to document this history, capturing the emotions and traditions associated with the team through a form that can be shared across generations. Fab G hopes his contribution will help make the anniversary memorable while giving fans a song that reflects their loyalty to Bosso.

The musician is also among the performers scheduled to appear at the Bosso@100 Music Bash, which is set to take place on 31 October at the Highlanders Club House. The event forms part of the celebrations marking the club’s 100th anniversary and brings together performers from different parts of the local entertainment industry. Other artistes listed for the event include Tshibilika musicians Mxolisi Mr Bones and Godolude, Ramsey K and the Big Ray Band, Dzibalemvula, Noluntu J and Zwelihle Jele, among others. The lineup highlights the role of local music in the centenary festivities and provides a platform for Bulawayo performers to celebrate a major sporting institution. For Fab G, appearing at the event gives him an opportunity to connect his new song directly with the supporters who inspired it.

Fab G described his invitation to perform at the centenary celebration as a major achievement in his musical career. He said the opportunity to perform for an institution with a 100-year history was both humbling and rewarding. The musician also expressed gratitude to the organisers and Highlanders supporters for giving his music a place in the celebrations. Being included in such an event allows him to contribute to a moment that extends beyond an ordinary performance or album promotion. It also gives him a chance to represent the creative talent emerging from Bulawayo, where football and music remain important parts of community life.

“I feel honoured, humbled and blessed to be called to perform for a 100-year-old institution like Highlanders FC. These are huge moves. Many artistes dream of that stage. For me, it’s a career highlight. I give thanks to the organisers and Bosso fans for trusting my music,” he said. Fab G added that being part of the celebrations meant his music would become part of the club’s history. He reflected on the significance of being able to tell future generations, including his grandchildren, that he performed for Highlanders during its centenary year. For him, the occasion represents more than professional recognition because it connects his personal story with the wider legacy of the club. His remarks underline the emotional importance of creating music for a team that has influenced his life since childhood.

The first live performance of “iBosso Tshilamoya” at the Bosso@100 Music Bash is expected to be a significant moment for the musician. Performing the song in front of Highlanders supporters will allow him to experience their response to a track designed around their chants, identity and loyalty. A live debut also creates an opportunity for fans to become part of the song by singing along and contributing to the atmosphere. Fab G has encouraged supporters to attend the event in large numbers and prepare to join him in celebrating the milestone. He has promised to deliver his best performance as he introduces the new anthem to the audience.

As Highlanders FC celebrates its centenary, Fab G’s “iBosso Tshilamoya” stands as a tribute shaped by family loyalty, childhood memories and a lasting love of football. The single brings together contemporary music, local musical influences and the collective spirit of a club that has played an important role in Bulawayo’s identity. Through his collaboration with Mthunzi Da Poet, Neshville and Ma-E Aparajalo, Fab G has worked to create a sound that reflects the atmosphere he associates with Bosso. His appearance at the Bosso@100 Music Bash will give the song its first live outing and connect the tribute directly with the supporters who inspired it. For Fab G, the project is both a personal achievement and a contribution to a historic celebration, demonstrating how music can preserve sporting memories and help carry a club’s culture into future generations.