The criticism Winky D has received from Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo is the greatest endorsement yet the young dancehall artist has received from an established artiste.

Mapfumo yesterday lashed into an unsuspecting Winky D, real name Wallace Chirumiko, for “destroying Zimbabwean music” by performing music of foreign origin. In an interview with ZimboJam, Mukanya argued that Winky D’s music, "could only be appreciated by his friends and relatives" only. Quiet bemusing a put down on an artist who is one of the handful few from Zimbabwe, to have traversed all six continents on tour. Mapfumo’s vitriolic attack comes as Winky returns from a successful whirlwind of Malaysia, Australia, Canada and the US.

Mapfumo reportedly said: “I listen a lot to what the likes of Winky D are singing and my heart bleeds. People like Winky D are destroying Zimbabwean music.

“What he sings is not our music. He can enjoy the success now but that kind of music does not last. Tuku (the legendary musician, Oliver Mtukudzi) and I would not have made it musically if we had sung stuff like that. He must be original to survive in music,” Mukanya was quoted as saying.

I personally wasn’t surprised by Mapfumo’s pronouncements, as it’s become quiet chronic for him to cut slack at any new popular acts. In 2006, he made public his contempt of the Zimbabwean pop genre of Urban Grooves as well.

The cipher rapper in Mukanya

Mapfumo very much reminds me of KRS One, the semi-retired veteran Hip Hop guru and respected battle rapper who claims that at any one time he makes a list of all top ten rappers in the music charts, and writes cipher bars against them.

Mapfumo, who has been living in self-imposed exile in the US for over a decade, has never shied from a fight all through his carrer. He has in the past chided the retiring and long-time rival Tuku, for singing “songs about green, yellow and red lights of robots (traffic lights)!”.

Mapfumo is every music journalists' dream as he guarantees you a golden quote at every interview. He's a definite bet to stir controvesy. Like a schoolground bully, he also just takes a kick on throwing potshots at up and coming "Young Turks" as it helps him remain relevant. 

In a way, it’s a show of animalistic territoriality that defines most music landscapes. Think LL Cool J v Canibus beef; Liam Gallagher of Oasis v Robbie Williams of Take That , Lily Allen v Cherryl Cole or lately, Lil' Kim v Nikki Minaj . The older head letting the green horn, who was here first.

For Mapfumo though, this latest publicity will shore up some attention as his career is in apparent doldrums.

In the past three years, Mapfumo’s cross-Atlantic tours to the UK have been less than satisfactory, marred by downsized line-ups of his Blacks Unlimited band, questionable performances, and incredulous demands for diva-esque luxurious treatment at hotels.

In fact, Zimbojam’s latest interview with Mapfumo in South Africa, was just after his duet performance (pic below) with another veteran, Mtukudzi, as Mukanya had not brought his own band. It’s not clear why the Blacks Unlimited were M.I.A, although rumours are awash that the band has been stripped to bare bones at present.

Unfair

I find it grossly unfair and rather hypocritical how Mapfumo criticises Winky D and other upstart Zimbabwean urban acts who borrow artistic inspiration from borders yonder. Mapfumo himself has dabbled with “foreign” music in the past. How else would he describe his collaboration with the UK/Jamaican Misty in Roots band for his iconic 80s reggae smasher, Mugarandega; and most recently, the track Komborera off the album Toi Toi, with Malian Kora players.

Music transcends cultural boundaries, and we have to accept and celebrate that unshaking truth. Some of the prominent African acts at the moment such as Nigerian Nneka, Congolese Fally Ipupa and Somalia’s K’naan have indeed adopted and derived inventiveness from the West. Mapfumo’s own son is an aspiring rapper!

Winky D responds

Credit to Winky D, he was most respectful to Mapfumo in his reply. In a statement, he said: “We are basically trying to articulate our voice in the context of our value systems. Life has become faster and we cannot get stuck in the past, we cannot implement strategies that Mukanya probably implemented say 20 years ago, it won’t work for us just as much we cannot be expected to sing Chimurenga music because our target audiences do not understand it.

“The speed at which the world is changing requires pragmatism and the ‘elder’ seems to be falling short on that,” Winky D added. 

If Mukanya is lucky, that will be the last he will hear from Winky, me thinks. If not, there’s a beef riddim on the way that may really raffle his feathers, for Winky just loves to respond to criticism through song (as he did after he was accused of racism at Zimfest 2009, see vid below).

Interestingly, as Mapfumo was laying into Winky D, Tuku was launching a new project, his 60th album Abi’angu (Duets of my Time) - a compilation of duets that Mtukudzi did with foreign musicians and Zimbabwean artists including R&B singer Kudzai Sevenzo, and rapper XQ.

Now, there is a musician who knows that to attain longevity, one needs to grasp the times, constantly invent oneself and accept cultural changes and generational tastes. Little wonder then why Tuku has continued to preform better commercially than his peer and friend. 

Winky D on the other hand should now realise he has been promoted to the Champions league and he's now sharing the ring with the heavyweights. Mapfumo's shock attack can only serve as worth recognition of his growing reputation.