HARARE – Zimbabwe music superstar Jah Prayzah has reportedly apologised to Kurai Makore, after he recently released a song that sounded similar to the one made by the Chimurenga musician in 2022.
Jah Prayzah, who recently released his 14th album, found himself in the eye of a plagiarism storm after Dr Blessing Ivan Vava, the regional director at Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe, claimed that his song, Moto, sounded too similar to Makore’s Kanyarugwe.
While Makore also noted the similarities between the two songs, veteran chimurenga music star Thomas Mapfumo said that he had managed to broker peace between the two artists.
“I have heard about the issue and immediately decided to intervene and put the matter to rest,” he said in a interview.
“Jah Prayzah called me and apologised. We accepted the apology, and I appreciated the show of maturity. Jah Prayzah told me that he was given the beat by someone and did not know that the beat had been taken elsewhere.
“In fact, the beat is mine, but we have important things to attend to anyway.”
Mapfumo said in his later years he was only interested in fostering peace between artists.
“Coming up with similar beats is common in music and I have seen it before. However, I have reached a point where I do not need to fight with younger artistes since I have grown to become an elder in the industry.
“Surely, I cannot be found embroiled in petty fights; I am now an elder . . . We do not need these fights in music because it is not war. I am just glad that the Jah Prayzah issue is resolved.”
Makore said he wanted the matter resolved as he did not want to be seen as profiting from any potential conflict with Jah Prayzah.
“In this case, we were not trying to capitalise on the issue and we do not want money. What we wanted was for the world to know about some of the things that happen in showbiz,” said Makore.
“I am not someone who seeks conflict or drama; I am merely a musician making a name in the industry. I respect Jah as a star, and I am glad that my uncle has reached out to his camp.”
Jah Prayzah’s camp has not commented on the matter.
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