SOUTH AFRICA – Musician Prince Kaybee has said Zimbabwean music is failing to break barriers because the country’s most popular genre among youth, Zimdancehall, does not have the strength to break barriers internationally.
The comments by Prince Kaybee (real name Kabelo Motsamai) come amidst heated debate on why the country’s musicians have failed to break regional and international barriers like their South African counterparts.
In a post on social media, Prince Kaybee, who has played in Zimbabwe extensively in the past, said dancehall limited the prospects of the country’s music exports.
“I have been to Zimbabwe a lot, mostly in Bulawayo and Harare, even stayed there for a month while recording The 4th Republic,” he wrote on X.
“I’ve noticed that the fabric of Zimbabwean music, its core inability to be exported, isn’t a quality issue. You guys actually have world-class engineers and songwriting.”
He continued: “The issue is the type of sonics that have been consistent throughout the years, which is Zimdancehall. It’s a very small genre that is a subgenre in and of itself, and it’s too layered to be commercially feasible in South Africa.”
The music DJ said the affinity for Zimdancehall made it hard for some Zimbabwean artists to adopt to new genres like amapiano.
“Even with adopting what’s happening in the world, like Amapiano for instance, the writing and lyrical approach still has that dancehall texture. That makes it hard for the music to evolve and grow.”
How can we export music when EVERYTHING is in shambles, honestly
Who will listen to Madedo besides muZim imimo hassikunyepa hake
Says the guy with a leaked s3x tape I beg Oga leave us alone
Imagine an American listening to Ngwere ,would anyone enjoy the music if he didn't understand the lyrics
Any1 who thinks ZimDancehall music can make it internationally needs his brain examined
Coz of national radio always pfee pfee
Who will listen to Captain Britain in their right mind?
is Egyptian, Mozambican, Madagascan, Botswanian, zambian, Gambian music breaking barriers internationally. Why do we hate our country？
In Zimbabwe we dont have good musicians at all. Wese angoda kuzama otopambwa ne Zanu pf akutoimbira varakashi
Kaylee you are on point that's true my brother we saw this long time ago..take a look Jamaicans they sing in English everybody will understand if the were singing in Spanish it was a disaster the same Zim dancehall sings in Shona .who wants to listen gwagwrrrr huhu ???
Jamaica was colonized by the British and not Spain….
Zim Musicians are Artist who were raised in Farms and Dark seat Villages, they engage into Music Industry for Hustling hence hey STAND on local music to get money for Survival fast….
He's very correct but the real reason he can't state is how these guys get exposure…..
What's the secret…is the agenda that they push through their music and videos which to me is homosexuality….I think it's too much of a sacrifice…
Most South African musicians that shining on the world stage is either gay or lesbian…so I think Zimbabwean musicians can't compare on that……so I think that comparison isn't fair @all
Sylent Nqo is carrying us up watch the space,
Rest in peace mdara Tuku
True Zim as for me handiterere Zim music
In terms of music zimbabwe have nothing and useless music which can't cross the border,it's just a mess
There was a time when sungura was most popular but still it didn't break the international barrier
The guy knows exactly what he's saying let's not blame or hate him coz akutaura mafacts
You are right sir,airplay is limited due to limited radio stations,and also poor production due to inexperience
We have the hottest export Sylent Nqo my guy international no boundaries waiting for Denga while huya is riding on the waves massively
Evn south African Amapiano I really don't like too we like our own dancehall because we're own
What about his own music?
Kutoteeera Jamaican music ndo ka element kehudofo uchirega zimdancehall yekumba kwenyu
Iri pa hwabada kwabada …. Dhedhedhe dhedhedhe Malo 🤣🤣🤣 ….hapana kwatirikuenda
which hit has he done since Gugulethu 🫣🙄🤷🏽♂️ why is he not breaking barriers