Winky D demystifies dancehall
Dumisani Ncube | Friday March 3, 2017 15:17
It has found ground in most of the African region but locally only a few artists such as King Blak and Yaw Bannerman are into the genre.
“Dancehall is a tool used to address social issues, it’s meant for people of different background. You do not have to be a Rastafarian for you to listen to dancehall, it focuses on issues that are faced every day. Where I come from every ghetto youth has a dream in life. Despite the obstacles faced in life there we also use dancehall to motivate them,” Winky D said.
He was quick to note that what has been previously said about the genre is a misconception as it is directed to anyone that chooses to listen to it.
Locally dancehall fanatics such Moses ‘Rudeboy’ Maruping have publicly stated that they do not enjoy the local entertainment scene because the genre is not catered for or promoted that much which has led to the country having a few dancehall artists which has also led to the number of followers becoming less.
As one of the pioneers of dancehall in his home country Zimbabwe, Winky D noted that starting off the genre was not an easy walk in the park, as they faced a number of challenges, but for them as artists to be appreciated they decided to perform their dancehall songs in their native language Shona.
“The moment we started singing in Shona they started to appreciate us because they understood what we were saying in the music.”
Some of the challenges that Winky D faced are that the genre had a misconception and some they did not understand what the artists were doing.
“It goes beyond the genre, other factors matter. Support from the fans and media also helps with helping the genre grow. As for me Zimbabweans back home endorsed me and I got to be known in other places.”
Whilst locally the dancehall genre is struggling it is gaining momentum in neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia where there are artists such as Buffalo Soul Jah, Gemini Major and Tockey Vibes who have managed to excel. A number of dancehall events have been held in Gaborone but they did not run for a long time due to lack of support.
“It’s not about the numbers but satisfying the few people that appreciate and attend the shows,” said Winky D as he explained that a low attendance in a dancehall event does not really have to be a problem. Winky D encourages international collaborations. “It’s a market exchange venture that will benefit you in return”.
The artist has been doing dancehall for the past 15 years and performed in different countries. His latest hit Disappear has been well received around the African region.