Just a few years ago, I embraced new works in music every year.
Now, my attitude towards new music in Zimbabwe could best be described as "remarkably grouchy."
Part of this shift can be attributed to my cognitive development as human "open-eardness" naturally wanes with age.
Yet an equally significant factor lies in the ever-changing nature of music itself.
Year after year, music mutates, with new-fangled stylistic variations supplanting yesterday's novelties.
Musical preferences evolve throughout a person's lifetime, with significant shifts occurring during adolescence and adulthood.
Generally, younger listeners tend to favour contemporary and intense genres like dancehall ‘hip hop, R &B,rock and pop, while older adults often gravitate towards sophisticated and unpretentious genres like traditional, sungura, Soul, classical and country music.
A key factor in this shift is the tendency for people to become less open to new music as they age, with preferences often solidifying in early adulthood.
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The other day, this kid kept looking at me when he heard me singing: Saka Ngaibake.
He then asked me: “Elder, do you even know who sang that song?” Yes I told him in full confidence: “Its Freeman HKD”. He was surprised.
I think he was surprised because he did not think that at my age I would be listening to and remembering music like that.
To him, that genre of music is meant for teenagers. I should be enjoying the old soul classics or funk music and chimurenga and not contemporary music like Saka Ngaibake.
The music I used to enjoy as a teenager still remains stuck in my mind to the extent that when I hear an old tune I used to like being played, I stop to listen to it attentively.
We have already gone past mid-year but we have not embraced any new music icons of 2025 in Zimbabwe.
Vast new names have come up in the past few years and some forgotten ones have made comebacks.
The charts are still dominated by the likes of Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Thomas Mapfumo, Freeman HKD and KillerT who are all yesterday’s novelties
It doesn’t look like we have embraced any new artistes in Zimbabwe in 2025. Is it because of economic hardships that new artistes are finding it difficult to join the music market or that the market itself has lost its lustre?
There are hardly any significant names to add to the music market in 2025. More musicians have been lost compared to new market entries.
This year, Zimbabwe has lost several musicians who include gospel singer Veronica Chibanda of Anouya Zvekare fame who died in March. Tatenda Pinjisi, a sungura maestro also died after a car accident in April.
After that it was Raymond Mupfumira of Chikwata 263 and Transit Crew. As if that was not enough, music producer, bass guitarist and long serving music crooner, Clancy Mbirimi also died last month.
The Mbirimi family has been hit the hardest. On August 10, in 2020, we lost Lovejoy Ezra Mbirimi a passionate jazz musician of Mbare Trio who died after a short battle with herniated lumber.
Not long after, in 2021, Friday Mbirimi, another member of Mbare Trio also died from colon cancer. Now it’s Clancy Mbirimi. Lord have mercy!
Only last week we also received the heartbreaking news of the death of drummer and music producer, Sam Chagumachinyi.
It seems most of our top musicians are being taken away from the market compared to those who enter it.
Identifying the absolute "top” musicians of 2025 is subjective and can vary based on the criteria used.
This criteria includes popularity, awards, sales, influence, etc. With a rich tapestry of genres ranging from traditional mbira music, sungura, Zimdancehall,. to contemporary Afro-jazz, Zimbabwe’s musical heritage is both diverse and vibrant.
However, some of the most prominent and successful Zimbabwean musicians in 2025, based on various sources, include: Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Holy Ten, Nutty O, Freeman, Voltz JT, Mono Mukundu, Seh Calaz, Trevor Dongo, Janet Manyowa, Tamy Moyo, Enzo Ishall, Leonard Zhakata, Tocky Vibes,Takura, Charles Charamba, Mokoomba, Baba Harare, Ex Q., Devera Ngwena Jazz Band, Mathias Mhere, Silent Killer and Killer T.
But who is going to take over from these artistes with whom we are already familiar?
Although none of them have made hits of note in 2025,quite a few of emerging Zimbabwean artistes are making waves in the music scene.
Unless you are a keen radio listener you probably have yet to come across names like Sha Nisha, TS Chillmaster, Sora, TMB, Oriano, Ata, Jinx, Mr Candy, Delroy, Shareware, Calvin Mangana, Runa, and Roules.
These artistes are gaining recognition for their fresh sounds and popular often- requested -for tracks. Additionally, artistes whom you are now familiar with like Feli Nandi, Tocky Vibes, Voltz JT, and Van Choga are also highlighted for their 2025 contributions to the diverse Zimbabwean music landscape.
Some of the artistes listed above, may have not made a significant mark in 2025 but others like Tgonzi, Saintfloew, Nyamasvisva, Bazooka, Van Choga, Willom Tight, Gary Tight, Minister Michael Mahendere, Levels, Uncle Epatan, Shasha and Leo Magozz are gaining significant traction. One question is: Are they able to replace the giants (Jah mentioned above?
Some of these artistes have been going for years without making a significant mark on the market.
It does not look like the music business is still attracting a lot of youths in their bid to look for new ventures
Not many new bands have been formed in 2025. Not many new artistes have come to the fore.. Many of them have left the country to seek greener pastures.
These include names which have recently entered the market such as Yamikani, The Last Letter, Joy Rukanza, Lain, Quetheartist,. Thando Mlambo, Kyla Blac and Shasha. We wait to see if they will make their mark in 2025 which is almost coming to an end.
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