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Zimdancehall is a subgenre of reggae and dancehall music from Zimbabwe. The traditional way of message delivery is through chanting. Zimdancehall became more popular after the fall of the Urban Grooves genre. Popular pioneers of Zimdancehall include Winky D, Sniper Storm, Daddie Distress, Ras Tavonga (Jah Bless), Freeman HKD, and Lewaz Skattah.
Zimdancehall started in the late 1980s with the rising up of local sound systems. The popularity of these recordings led to more studio recordings. By the end of the 1990s, a number of local youths were recording singles and albums independently and reggae bands like Cruxial Mix (Trevor Hall) and Black Roots holding regular weekly shows to showcase artists.[ citation needed ]
The genre was cast as a copycat of Jamaican culture and way of life. Recording studios shunned it saying it does not appeal or sell.[ who? ] The emergence of independent studios and the arrival of urban grooves in 2001 opened doors for many artists with the release of various artists albums. In 2004, a hardcore dancehall album with lyrics in Shona rather than English or patois proved popular.
In 2005, the genre saw a series of hits by Winky D. In 2006, another artist Slaggy Yout based in the UK renamed it to Zimdancehall after creating a website dedicated to the genre. [1] This coincided with political and economic sanctions in Zimbabwe making internet access affordable for many artists. [2] [ failed verification ] Tracks were sent by post to the UK or uploaded in internet cafes with funding from the website. Artists weren't getting any airplay and promoters were not booking or marketing them. Individual promoters arranged shows in ghettos.
It has become a stronghold of Zimbabwean music attracting listeners of all ages, representing almost 60% of Zimbabwean radio airplay.[ citation needed ] The genre continues to evolve its sound with many new Zimdancehall artists mixing the genre and its sound into modern songs.
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first popular song to use the word reggae, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. Reggae is rooted out from traditional Jamaican Kumina, Pukkumina, Revival Zion, Nyabinghi, and burru drumming. Jamaican reggae music evolved out of the earlier genres mento, ska and rocksteady. Reggae usually relates news, social gossip, and political commentary. It is instantly recognizable from the counterpoint between the bass and drum downbeat and the offbeat rhythm section. The immediate origins of reggae were in ska and rocksteady; from the latter, reggae took over the use of the bass as a percussion instrument.
In Jamaican dancehall music, a riddim is the instrumental accompaniment to a song and is synonymous with the rhythm section. Jamaican music genres that use the term consist of the riddim plus the voicing sung by the deejay. A given riddim, if popular, may be used in dozens—or even hundreds—of songs, not only in recordings but also in live performances.
The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres, such as mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub music, dancehall, reggae fusion and related styles.
Dub is an electronic musical style that grew out of reggae in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is commonly considered a subgenre of reggae, though it has developed to extend beyond that style. Generally, dub consists of remixes of existing recordings created by significantly manipulating the original, usually through the removal of vocal parts, emphasis of the rhythm section, the application of studio effects such as echo and reverb, and the occasional dubbing of vocal or instrumental snippets from the original version or other works.
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms. Key elements of dancehall music include its extensive use of Jamaican Patois rather than Jamaican standard English and a focus on the track instrumentals.
Zimbabwean music is heavily reliant on the use of instruments such as the mbira, Ngoma drums and hosho. Their music symbolizes much more than a simple rhythm, as the folk and pop style styled music was used as a symbol of hope for Zimbabweans looking to gain independence from Rhodesia. Music has played a significant role in the history of Zimbabwe, from a vital role in the traditional Bira ceremony used to call on ancestral spirits, to protest songs during the struggle for independence. The community in Zimbabwe used music to voice their resistance to their oppression, as one of the only weapons they had available to fight back with. In the eighties, the Music of Zimbabwe was at the center of the African Music scene thanks to genres such as Sungura and Jit. However, several performers were banned by state TV and radio leading to the closing of several music venues.
There are several subgenres of reggae music including various predecessors to the form.
Though reggae music first developed in Jamaica, it has strong rhythmic and thematic associations with Africa and has been called "the quintessential African/third world/black musical form". There are many African reggae musicians with a wide fan base both on the continent and abroad. Well-known African reggae artists are Alpha Blondy, Pax Nindi aka Harare Dread, Majek Fashek, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Colbert Mukwevho,Thomani Tshikororo, Ismael Isaac, Radical Dread, Jambo, Soul Raiders, Lucky Dube, and Serges Kassy.
The Gladiators are a Jamaican roots reggae band, most popular during the 1970s. The core was Albert Griffiths, Clinton Fearon and Gallimore Sutherland. Their two most famous albums are Trenchtown Mix Up (1976) and Proverbial Reggae (1978) with songs such as "Hearsay", "Jah Works", "Dreadlocks the Time is Now". "Mix Up", "Music Makers from Jamaica", and "Soul Rebel" – a song written by The Wailers. Gladiators also cooperated with the toaster U-Roy.
Reggae fusion is a fusion genre of reggae that mixes reggae and/or dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, hip-hop/rap, R&B, jazz, funk, soul, disco, electronic, and Latin music, amongst others.
Winky D is a Zimbabwean reggae-dancehall artist, popularly known as "The Big Man". His music provides social commentary about Zimbabwean society.
Winston Anthony Morris, known professionally as Tony Tuff, was a Jamaican conscious roots reggae singer and a member of The African Brothers in the late 1960s and 1970s before embarking on a solo career.
Desire Sibanda is a Zimbabwean reggae singer and songwriter, better known by his stage name Dizzy Dee. He moved to Australia in 2007 and currently resides in Melbourne where he performs and works as a disk jockey on a regular basis.
Thabani Ndlovu, known professionally as Buffalo Souljah, is a South Africa-based Zimbabwean reggae recording artist and songwriter. He won ten times at the Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, Soundcity Music Awards, and Zimdancehall Awards and Nominated for Afrimma, Afrima ,IRAWMA. He owns the record label U.N.A..
Tendazvaitwa Medea Chitimbe is a Zimbabwean dancehall musician who adopted the moniker ‘Ninja Lady’ from her boss and mentor Winky D who is called Ninja President by his legion of fans. She first rose to fame after featuring in Winky D's song Taitirana paFirst Sight in 2011.
The 2019 Star FM Music Awards were held on February 1, 2019, at Zimbali Gardens in Harare, Zimbabwe. The awards identify musical excellence, providing a multifaceted celebration of the rich cultural diversity of Zimbabwean music.
Freeman HKD Boss, born Emegy Slyvester Chizanga, is a Zimdancehall artist who rose to prominence after release of Joina City single.
Rodger Tafadzwa Kadzimwe, known professionally as Levels Chillspot, is a Zimbabwean music producer, artist and Zimdancehall chanter. He is co-founder of Chillspot Recordz.
McDonald Sheldon, known professionally as Qounfuzed is a Zimbabwean singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in 2011 when he released Chimbovarega single which became a radio hit.
