Following the intense fallout over the performance rights to Thomas Mapfumo’s catalogue, musician Kurai Makore has adhered to his uncle’s restrictions by performing an entire set of his own original music.
Stepping onto the stage at Feli Nandi’s record-breaking show at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), Makore showcased his growth as an independent artist.
Hits like Pasi, Manhanga Matete and Tombie resonated deeply with the crowd, keeping the audience dancing and singing along throughout his set.
Addressing the issue during a radio interview with veteran presenter Themba Mkanda, Makore expressed respect for Mapfumo’s decision and framed the challenge as a necessary step in his artistic journey.
“I was named Kurai, meaning I should grow up. Thomas Mapfumo is my father, and I cannot distinguish his relationship and role with me,” he said.
“Culturally, my uncle is my father, and I respect him and the situation I am in. My name Kurai, suggests that I grow up and do my own things. I have stopped performing his songs until I am given consent. All I pray for is for God to keep my father.”
The feud between the Chimurenga music icon and his nephew stems from a dispute over intellectual property, brand identity, and legacy.
For years, Kurai Makore was widely embraced by fans as the natural heir to the Chimurenga music throne.
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He shared stages with Mapfumo, including high-profile shows in South Africa and the UK and frequently covered his classic songs with Mapfumo's initial blessing to keep the genre alive.
The relationship deteriorated when Mapfumo’s management team and the Chimurenga Music Company issued a formal legal cease-and-desist order banning Makore from performing, recording, or commercially exploiting any songs from Mapfumo’s catalog.
Mapfumo argued that while Makore had been advised to cultivate his own sound, he continued to leverage his uncle's copyrighted material without official licensing.
As the controversy escalated in public interviews, Mapfumo sought to distance himself entirely from Makore.
Mapfumo publicly disputed the familial narrative, stating that Makore was not his biological son and rejecting claims that he had ever appointed Makore as his official musical successor.
He stressed that “Chimurenga music belongs to the people”, but his specific copyrighted compositions were his private intellectual property and not up for unauthorized inheritance.
By shifting strictly to his own compositions at the HICC concert, Makore signals that he is taking his uncle’s advice and the legal boundaries to heart, choosing to step out from Mapfumo's shadow and build a standalone legacy.
