The debate on foreign versus local music is just as old as the first radio.It has been on-going and there seems to be no end near.
BY SILENCE CHARUMBIRA
While foreign music standards have almost always been a notch above local, many agree local is lekker.
It is the music that tells the people about themselves accurately as opposed to foreign music. Yet local radio stations have not made it any easier by the continued churning out of foreign music.
In a way they have made information minister Professor Jonathan Moyo a hero for local musicians due to his policy in his first term of office when he introduced the 75% local content policy.
The policy gave birth to the urban grooves generation due to a renewed confidence in local content production.
But as that seemed to have won the war then came social media which has given just about anyone with access to the internet a chance to watch anything. That has brought the likes of Zahara and Mafikizolo even closer as their content is all over social media spaces.
Yet the continental award won by Cindy Munyavi — beating Zahara and fellow South African Lira — opens up another dimension to the debate.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Cindy is a product of urban grooves and made a name for herself locally before Zahara and maybe even Lira, but she has played second fiddle all along to every other foreign act, except for when she performed alongside Jamaican Beenie Man at the Lion Larger Summer Beer Festival held at Old Hararians Sports Club in 2010.
Organisers of the forthcoming Zahara/Mafikizolo gig to be held at the Harare International Conference Centre on March 6, say in as much as they may want to consider locals to headline their gigs it is the people who determine who they want as the top act at an event. Simmad Promotions boss Simba Madziwa said it is difficult to judge.
“Locally, the fans asked us to bring Zahara and all we did was act on their request. The fans are best placed to explain why they requested for Zahara,” he said.
Cindy yesterday refused to comment on the debate.
The show on March 6 appears to be confirming the notion that Zimbabwe continues to be rich hunting ground for South Africans as it is one of the rare occasions where artistes from that country share the stage in Harare.
