A fresh storm has erupted over the origins of Zimbabwe’s most influential urban sound, Zimdancehall, after DJ Levels recently claimed that his stable, Chillspot Records, pioneered the genre.
The remarks have sparked fierce pushback from early contributors and critics, reopening a long-running debate: who really started Zimdancehall in Zimbabwe?
UK-based artist Daddy Slaggy has emerged as one of the strongest voices challenging the narrative. He argues that both the name and foundation of Zimdancehall predate Chillspot by several years.
According to Slaggy, the term “Zimdancehall” was already in use as early as 2008, pointing to historical references including nominations at the Kora Awards where the genre was explicitly Recognised.
He also cites the Kukonzeresa riddim project — distributed digitally in 2008 — as a key milestone, while veteran musician King Labash supports the claim that Slaggy (then Slaggy Yout) coined the term during the creation of the Kukonzeresa riddim.
“He said the genre would be our own Zim dancehall, and that’s how it all came to life,” Labash recalls.
While the term may have emerged in the 2000s, music scholars argue that the sound itself stretches much further back.
University of Zimbabwe lecturer Fred Zindi traces Zimdancehall to Jamaican dancehall influences adapted locally by artists such as Winky D and King Labash, who fused riddims with Shona lyrics to create a distinctly Zimbabwean identity.
“The name dancehall comes from Jamaica, a later version of reggae music,” said Zindi.
“The name itself comes from Jamaican dancehall, but youths in Zimbabwe like Winky D who popularised it and King Labash were busy copying the rhythms (riddims) from Jamaica and putting Shona lyrics eventually decided to give their version a brand name.
“I believe this suggestion came from Jusa who was based in the United Kingdom around the year 2000. Chillspot Records, based in Mbare, who were instrumental in recording riddims from Jamaica started to do the same style and invited youths to come and sing over their riddims.
“Youths such as Major E, Sniper Storm, Booker T, Killer T, Tocky Vibes, Freeman HKD, Soul Jah Love, Badman, Ricky Fire and Enzo Ishall, among others, accepted the name and Zimdancehall came into being.”
Zindi’s sentiments were echoed by another music critic Clive “Mono” Mukundu who believes Zimdancehall started around the mid-80s.
“The roots of Zimdancehall goes back to the times of Tendai Gamure (Culture-T) when he recorded with Transit Crew in the mid-80s, down to the likes of Fortune Mparutsa, then came Major E during the Urban Grooves era followed by the likes of Winky D and others,” Mukundu said.
Despite the historical pushback, few dispute the role of Chillspot Records in popularising Zimdancehall.
Founded in 2012 in Mbare by DJ Levels alongside DJ Fantan, DJ Rhibhe and Samcris, the stable became a launchpad for a new generation of artists including Soul Jah Love, Killer T, Tocky Vibes and Freeman HKD.
Its high-energy riddim culture and township-driven production style helped push the genre into the mainstream during the mid-2010s.
Arts critic Plot Mhako said it was misleading for individuals to claim sole ownership of a cultural movement with deep and collective roots.
“What I honestly don’t get is why some people insist on saying they ‘started’ Zimdancehall when they know they joined the party midway. The history is there and well documented,”
Mhako said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Chillspot Records didn’t start Zimdancehall. They played a huge role in pushing it into the mainstream, no doubt, but they are part of a wider network that amplified the sound.”
Social media users also weighed in, emphasising that Zimdancehall evolved as a collective movement shaped by multiple players over time.
Contributors cited early producers such as Nhubu Digital and Major Mockery, as well as artists including Winky D, Sniper Storm, Guspy Warrior and Badman Gwans, as key figures in the genre’s formative years.
Others highlighted the role of the Zimbabwean diaspora, particularly in the UK and South Africa, in promoting and distributing the music internationally.
So, Who Started Zimdancehall?
The answer depends on how one defines “starting.”
What is clear, however, is that Zimdancehall is less the creation of one individual and more a cultural movement built over decades.
As the genre continues to evolve, the battle for its history—and its heroes—shows no signs of fading.