Zimbabwean music heavyweight Winky D reportedly snubbed a concert headlined by Jamaican artist Alaine at the Harare International Convention Centre (HICC), Standard Style has learnt.
The Easter weekend event, which also featured Jah Prayzah, faced criticism from fans who felt the line-up lacked a strong reggae or dancehall connection to complement Alaine’s musical roots.
The event ultimately suffered from low attendance, contrasting sharply with the high turnout at competing events held on the same night, such as the Ama 2K festival and Bling 4’s album launch.
Industry insiders suggest that the event’s promoter, Templeman, had initially hoped to pair Winky D with Alaine.
However, the artist reportedly refused to participate, citing his firm stance against performing at the HICC venue.
Winky D’s decision to avoid the HICC stems from a bitter dispute regarding his traditional New Year’s Eve (December 31) concert slot.
For several years, Winky D had effectively turned the HICC into his personal stronghold—often referred to by fans as "Jabhuna."
His annual crossover shows at the venue had become a cultural phenomenon, consistently drawing capacity crowds.
- Religion: Overcoming doubt and unbelief
- Winky D dominates Trevor’s In Conversation
- Religion: Overcoming doubt and unbelief
- Winky D dominates Trevor’s In Conversation
Keep Reading
The friction began when the venue management decided to cancel Winky D’s exclusive booking for the December 31 slot, opting instead to award the date to gospel artist Everton Mlalazi.
This decision was perceived by many of Winky D’s supporters as an attempt to sideline the artist and diminish his influence at the venue.
Following the cancellation, Winky D publicly signaled his departure from the HICC.
He famously addressed the situation in his track Zvatanga, where he sings, “Ndabva pa Jabhuna, horight chiitai” (I have left "Jabhuna" [the HICC] for you; go ahead and host your shows, and we shall see where that leads).
This line served as a definitive declaration that he would no longer associate with the venue, a vow he appears to have maintained by snubbing the recent Alaine concert.
