If you have ever been to some of Limkokwing University’s Creativity in Motion fashion shows, chances are you have seen Jonah Sithole in action.

The former Zimbabwean Idols winner enjoys live performances, taking every chance he gets to perform. He has already released a 16 track Rhythm and Blues (R&B) album called ‘Piece of Me’. The album was produced with Boomslang records, a UK-based production house, and it is available on Amazon and iTunes.

A lively person from childhood, Jonah’s background in music goes way back. The 24-year-old United States born Zimbabwean travelled a lot as a child, and found his voice at age five while taking music classes at a preschool in Ethiopia.

“The first time I sang in public was around five, in a school choir, so I do have a strong music background,” he said.

He carried his passion for music wherever he went, ultimately competing in Zimbabwean Idols. The then 17-year-old Jonah caught the hearts of many Zimbabweans, but still says it was a surprise when he actually won the competition.

After Idols, even though he had a very promising future as an artiste in Zimbabwe, Jonah decided to put it on hold and continue with his studies, graduating with a diploma in Sound and Music Technology from Limkokwing University in December 2011. He plans to progress to a degree in Recording Arts in July.

“I’d rather be smart than famous,” he says.

He said being in Limkokwing University has helped boost his music career greatly, because he gets opportunity to perform to audiences during the University events. He also got to see the world from a new perspective and learned a lot of new things, like singing in Bahasa Malaysia.

Currently he is working on an R&B mixtape, and also works part time as a tutor with Limkokwing Sound and Music Design Academy. He plans on starting his own production house in the future, so that he can help and encourage young artistes trying to come up.

Even though there is not much profit to be made through selling albums because of piracy, Jonah is determined to follow his passion, and urges upcoming artistes not to enter the music industry for the money and the fame, but rather, for the passion.

“Music is a passion, not a job, you treat your music like a job, and you are going to be disappointed.”

He said the music industry is ridden with many other hurdles, and one has to persevere if they are really ardent about a career in music.

“If you want to make it in the music industry, don’t give up,” he said.