Sometime back, I wrote bemoaning why Zimbabwean musicians have up to now not entered the global market in a big way. However, the tables seem to be slowly turning.
Several Zimbabwean artistes have begun to penetrate the biggest awards ceremony in the world., the Grammys.
The Grammy Awards are presented annually in the United States by the Recording Academy to recognize excellence in the music industry. The Grammys are presented to artistes and technical professionals in music. The honour is a peer-presented award, meaning that artistes and technical professionals choose the winners.
Awards in any sector of the arts are a good thing as they not only give the artistes the recognition they deserve, but also encourage them to work even harder.
Jah Prayzah, became the first Zimbabwean to win an MTV African Music Award after scooping the Listeners’ Choice category on October 22, 2016. This year Winky D won the the African Dancehall Artist of the year at the African Golden Awards ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya..
But shouldn’t these artistes go further to get international recognition through Grammys? There is need to slowly penetrate the Grammys. That was Oliver Mtukudzi’s one ambition before his death but he never reached that far.
Grammy winners do not receive direct cash prizes or cheques from the recording academy. Instead, they receive the iconic gold-plated gramophone trophy and benefit from significant commercial advantages, often called the “Grammy bounce,” which includes a 55% average increase in concert ticket sales, higher streaming numbers, recognition throughout the world and better industry contract negotiations.
However, Zimbabwean artistes and hitmakers are slowly creeping into the international market and hopefully will all get to the Grammys..
Mr Brown, born Lionell Siwels and based in South Africa has worked with Master KG Nomsebezi Kule and Makadzi . They were nominated for the Grammys but did not make it.
Dr Chaii a Grammy nominated producer has also worked with global superstars like Sean Paul, Chris Brown and Pitbull, nominated but did not win.
Brian Soko who co-created Beyonce’s Drunken Love alongside Beyonce and has also worked with artistes like Cameron Jibril Thomaz, known professionally as Wiz Khalifa, an American rapper, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and actor. raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and signed with the local independent label Rostrum Records to release his debut studio album, Show and Prove.
Brian Soko also worked with Melwyn Peris a composer and singer of Konkani and Tulu songs hailing from Mangalore, .
Simba Tags a Zimbabwean producer and label owner has worked with Nigeria’s Burner Boy . Burner Boy was also nominated for the African Category at the Grammys.
Niniola, T-Collar aka Tinashe Sibanda has worked with Kevin Gates. Kevin Jerome Gilyard, known professionally as Kevin Gates, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is currently signed to Bread Winners’ Association with a partnership with Atlantic Records.
Awards in any sector of the arts are a good thing as they not only give the artistes the recognition they deserve, but also encourage them to work even harder
Within Zimbabwe we have the Nama and Zima Awards which are held annually.
Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) is an annual award ceremony founded in 2003 which acknowledges and honours musical excellence and creativity. It also provides a high profile and multi-faceted celebration of the rich cultural diversity of Zimbabwean music.
ZIMA is continuing their momentum following their 2025 return, featuring key categories like Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, and People’s Choice. The awards are focused on rebuilding trust through transparent, adjudicated processes to celebrate local talent, often featuring high-profile performances.
ZIMA chairman and former presidential photographer, Joseph Nyadzayo recently resuscitated the awards event.
With these developments in our local music industry, and the recent emergence of amazing talent across a wide spectrum, ZIMA is there to salute these musical greats and hopefully send them off to compete for the Grammys.
Of course, fans will have to wait until the actual award show to see who takes home a trophy.
Although Grammy Awards do not involve cash prizes, Zimbabwean artistes prefer to have cash instead of trophies.
Novuyo ‘Seagirl’ Dube from Bulawayo, said artistes want meaningful cash prizes and not the little which was given in the past. “We want these awards to be life changing for artistes. When I’m talking money, I mean really good money that can help you change your career just like in other countries. You hear that so and so received an award plus US$200 000,” she said.
Seargirl said: ” It was not good enough for winners to walk away with shields to display in their houses. You don’t eat a shield, but given enough money, you will strive to enter the nominations list hoping that you will win and get rewarded. We spend a lot of money in recording studios and doing expensive videos thinking that the end product will give you benefits, but one ends up with just a shield. What for? This message should also be extended to the organisers of the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama).”
In 2017, Jah Prayzah emerged the biggest winner at Nama in the Most Outstanding Male Musician category.
This year, Jah Prayzah dominated the 2026 Nama Awards, winning Outstanding Male Artist and Outstanding Album for Ndini Mukudzeyi, marking a record fifth album win. The awards, held in February 2026, cemented his status as a top Zimbabwean musical force alongside fellow big winner Winky D.
Mokoomba, a well-travelled group from Victoria Falls who have just completed a sixteen countries tour this year is yet another group to be awarded locally and globally. They have already won the Nama Award on several occasions .
We hope that next year, we will see more and more Zimbabwean artistes as winner at the Grammys..
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