South African artist Prince Kaybee has recently ignited excitement within Zimbabwe’s music industry.
In a widely shared post, he acknowledged the talent present in the nation but expressed a critical opinion: “The problem isn’t quality… it’s the sound.”
What is hindering Zimbabwean music?
Prince Kaybee specifically referenced Zimdancehall, describing it as “too layered, too niche” and claiming that it fails to resonate outside Zimbabwe’s borders.
Zimdancehall represents Zimbabwe’s interpretation of dancehall, yet it transcends mere imitation. This indigenous genre captures the essence of life in the ghetto, featuring lyrics in Shona, local slang, and tackling a spectrum of themes from hardship to love.
Views on Prince Kaybee’s remarks about Zimbabwean music are mixed; some consider his words disrespectful, while others agree he is simply articulating an uncomfortable truth.
Prince Kaybee’s Candid Opinion
The discussion began on X when a user @tabanimcgucci remarked that Zimbabwean music had “no export value” and labeled it “mid,” especially when compared to the continuous influx of South African musicians profiting from gigs in Zimbabwe.
“SA artistes are making money from Zimbabwe,” Tabani stated. “When Zim artistes go abroad, they only perform for Zimbabweans. That’s how mid our music is.”
This post ignited a heated debate, prompting Prince Kaybee to chime in.
“I’ve been to Zim many times, stayed there for a month while recording The 4th Republic,” he shared. “You guys have world-class engineers and songwriters, the problem isn’t quality.”
He identified Zimdancehall as the core issue. “It’s a subgenre of a subgenre. It doesn’t translate commercially in South Africa,” he clarified.
He also noted that the dancehall elements are being inappropriately infused into various genres, including Amapiano, resulting in a muddled hybrid that fails to resonate.
“The writing and lyrical approach still has that dancehall texture. That makes it hard for the music to evolve and grow.”
