Nyoni (27) is one of very few Zimbabwean men whose handiwork gives women turn-heads hairstyles and makes men look like American pop stars.
“When I started to do hairdressing, some people I knew thought I was either crazy or desperate for employment. But that is where my interests lay and I do not regret the decision to take it seriously,” said the young man born and raised in Bulawayo’s high-density suburb of Matshobane.
He runs a successful hairdressing business in the South African capital city. “We are one of the most respected salons in town and our staff is well-trained in both hairdressing and customer care so that all those who come here once are enticed to come back,” he told The Zimbabwean.
Born into a very poor family, with neither of his parents employed, Nyoni attended Gampu Primary and Mpopoma High, but did not proceed beyond the first two years at the latter.
“I was intelligent, but failed to find anyone to fund the remainder of my education, so I had to drop out of school. It was very painful, but I knew that would not be the end and life had to go on, so I had to quickly find something else to do,” said the businessman.
“I had already learnt the art of cutting people’s hair and in 2000 I bought some equipment and opened a barbershop in Bulawayo and made it an official business. I knew I had to start small, but with the quality of service I offered, people kept flocking to my shop.”
As the economy continued to take a turn for the worse, Nyoni packed his few tools of trade and joined the great trek to South Africa in 2003, his company having failed to live beyond two years.
“I had no travel documents because back then it was very difficult to get a passport in Zimbabwe. So I had to cross the border illegally, something that made it very difficult for me to adjust and carry on with my personal business here,” he explained.
“But I was lucky to find my uncle already operating a barbershop in Mamelodi, Pretoria, where I worked while trying to start up something of my own. I worked at that barbershop for only a year, as it closed down in 2004 due to viability problems.
“This threw me into the unfamiliar world of job hunting, in which I hopped from one barbershop to another, as I tried to gather enough start-up capital to buy more equipment and open my own shop.”
With direction and determination, Nyoni opened his own barbershop-cum-salon in 2005, where he now employs a number of hairdressers, most of them coming from his own country.
“We offer some of the best styles in town. We style even some of the top models and other local celebrities like footballers and businessmen who have found a home here,” he said. “Since we opened, we have been getting bigger by the day and now we are in the process of opening more barbershops around Pretoria and Johannesburg, so that we do not lose our loyal customers due to their relocation to some of those places.”
A man running such a business is usually always subject of stereotypes, but Nyoni has chosen to concentrate more on the profits he makes than the negatives he hears.
“What’s the use of listening to negative talk from people who do not add anything to my livelihood? The only kind of talk I listen to are the complaints and compliments I get from my clients – because they made me who I am today – a successful businessman,” he quipped.
“Most people who fail in life are those who do not know who they really need to listen to and end up quitting what would have made them great. People will always talk, but it is only what builds us that we need to take into our minds.”
Having found success in foreign lands, Nyoni does not intend to return home any time soon.
“I am really on top of my game here and leaving would be a betrayal of the loyal customers who have stuck with us since we began. I would like to open salons back home and continue to direct operations from this side.”
Post published in: News