Performing Artists
Thomas Mapfumo
Thomas Mapfumo is a leading Zimbabwean musician known as “The Lion of Zimbabwe” for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music. He currently lives in USA on exile.
Mapfumo's music is rooted in the ancient Shona culture of Zimbabwe, and his music and lyrics were a rallying focus in the slow revolution that eventually toppled the all-white Rhodesian government (the lyrics were written in an almost-unbreakable code -- the Shona language -- so for a long time, his subversion went unnoticed by the authorities).
Thomas Mapfumo has created the "chimurenga" music, based on a term that means "struggle" in Shona. His lyrics speak out strongly against corrupt regimes/political figures, alcoholism, domestic violence, social and economical issues among other things, while borrowing from mbira based traditional music, reggae, R&B and African Jazz.
www.ThomasMapfumo.blogspot.com
Trompies
The Trompies are a key musical group of South Africa that specializes in a type of pop music known as kwaito. The members of the group grew up together in a Soweto township and agreed to form a band after they had all completeled musical studies in college. Beginning to make music in the mid 1990s, they have since sold over half a million records and have become very successful in producing and managing other artists as well through their record label Kalawa Jazmee.
Trompies routinely rap vernacular forms of the major indigenous languages, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, and Zulu. Their use of the vernacular is a conscious attempt to address the social, political, and economic issues that impact marginalized communities in ways that hold particular meaning for them. Language is critical for not only celebrating the uniqueness and legitimacy of local communities, but also for maintaining ties between artists and their audiences.
Winky D
Many may know as well as they might not know that the dancehall fraternity doesn't stop at the shores of the Caribbean nor is limited to where Jamaicans reside. There could be a lot of Jamaicans in Africa, I dont think Winky D is one of them. He is the self-proclaimed King of the Dancehall in Zimbabwe, and there are many more top dancehall acts in other African countries such as Ghana.
Winky D .. has some problems .. he is in war with his fellow dancehall artiste from Zimbabwe, namely one called 'Badman'. There have been diss tunes and counteractions just like the dancehall atmosphere here in Jamaica.
In a recent news report in the Zimbabwe Herald, it was indicated that the new artiste are looking to take some hype off Winky. They seek their populairty by taking cheap shots at the "King".
This sounds familiar... in the lyrical wars over the years in Jamaica between artiste, especially the ongoing 20 year war with Beenie and Bounty, .. it has been said that one is parasitic on the other ..and same with more recent confrontations with Mavado and Kartel...where it is said that Kartel is riding on the Mavado international popularity. There is now a barrage of upcoming acts taking swipes at Kartel and Mavado under the disguise of defending their crew.