Zimbabwean music legend Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo believes Zimdancehall, a genre he has previously called bubblegum, is destroying local cultures.
Mukanya is of the view that Zimbabwean musicians should sing “the Zimbabwean way” rather than adopting a Jamaican genre as has allegedly been done by Zimdancehall artists. He said:
Thinking about where you are coming from is very important. If people hear that you are Zimbabwean, they will expect you to sing the Zimbabwean way.
That’s cultural exchange. We were accepted in America we brought our own music. All the big names in Africa, Salif Keita, Kela Kuti, Franco of Congo did not succeed from playing other countries’ music
Actually these kids, they are destroying our culture because Zimdancehall doesn’t belong to Zimbabwe; that’s a Jamaican style of music.
Why should we adopt the Jamaican culture? We are Zimbabweans. We got our own music. We promote our own culture rather than promoting Jamaican culture.
The 75-year-old Chimurenga music legend was the headline performer and guest of honour at the event which was screened from seven hubs on December 10 and 11.