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Herald Reporter
Zim dancehall has changed the music landscape in Zimbabwe enormously and is one of the major benefits derived from the introduction of the 75 percent local content by the Government at the turn of the millennium. The genre has in recent years overtaken almost all other genres in the country and continues to enjoy massive growth. So popular is the genre that it now draws tens of thousands of fans during live shows than previously known popular genres like sungura or dendera. Music critics have commended the growth of the genre, saying it was the future and that instead of being banned as suggested by some private Press yesterday, it should be promoted.

Veteran music critic Professor Fred Zindi said yesterday that Zim dancehall musicians should be allowed to self-regulate, instead of being vilified.
“It should start with radio and television stations,” he said.

“They should set up repertoire committees whose task is to listen to music coming in before it is given airplay.
“Once these dancehall artistes realise that their music is not going to be played, they will stop recording ‘silly’ and ‘vulgar’ tunes.

“The crowds sing to these songs because they hear them played on radio. If the radio does not play them, even the pirates are unable to market them, because no one knows these tunes. That is the only way we can control the flood of unwanted/bad music.”

Star FM programming manager Comfort Mbofana said Zim dancehall had established a big market in the country and its popularity was not based on dirty lyrics.
“We have a seven-member committee that filters the music before it is played on air,” he said. “The committee, headed by a manager, is there to look for any profanities, hateful language against women or children. So, all new music has to go through that process. However, I don’t think Zim dancehall should be banned because there is a market for that kind of music.

“People identify with that music.
“Although they borrow from Jamaica, the artistes have Africanised the music such that it appeals to a wider audience.”
Book writer Memory Chirere said imposing a ban on any art form was almost impossible since it was the society that drove any genre.

“Generally, it may not be possible to put a ban on any genre because it is the society which drives any form genre by liking it and supporting it,” he said.
Another positive from the Zim dancehall wave is that it has managed to promote the use of Shona language at a time other artistes, especially gospel musicians, prefer to sing in English.

Most of the major drivers of Zim dancehall are known for their sober habits, with the man-of-the-moment Tocky Vibes, born Obey Makamure, being popular among fans for his mature and well-thought-out lyrics in songs such as “Mhai” and “Ndivhurei Maziso”.

He does not glorify violence, neither does he promote drug and alcohol abuse. The competition has become stiff among Zim dancehall artistes such that there has been a lot of new music being churned out not just on radio or television, but through other social media platforms.

Zim dancehall has created some employment for the singers themselves and the recording studios that have mushroomed in various quarters.
In as much as there is bad stuff with regards to explicit lyrics or profanities, imposing a ban would affected the thousands of youth who are benefiting from the genre. What is important to note is that even big names in sungura like Alick Macheso and Suluman Chimbetu are roping in Zim dancehall artistes at their shows as a way of attracting the crowds.