Zimbabwean Music Hits with Millions of Views on YouTube – 2017

Popular Zimbabwe Music Hits 2017 - STAR FM and YouTube

Ammara Brown Performing at Zim Achievers Awards in Dallas USA - 2016

Which Zimbabwean music tracks have millions of views on YouTube, and which is the most popular Zimbabwean artist on YouTube? Which Zimbabwean artists dominate the local charts? Which Zimbabwe artists are popular in Africa and on the international stage? Would you like to know some of the most popular continental collaborations featuring Zim artists?

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Post Summary

To help you digest the content, the post contains the following sections:

• Zim YouTube Leaders
• Radio Charts vs. YouTube vs. Concerts
• Fresh Zimbabwe Hits That You Would Like
• Popular Zimbabwe Top 50 Hits on STAR FM Radio
• Popular Zimbabwe Hits with Millions of Views on YouTube
• Zim Classic Music – Golden Oldies
• Gospel Music Featuring Zimbabwean Artists

History

Zimbabwean music has evolved and diversified over the past three decades since 1980. In the early 80s, Rumba used to be the most popular music, it was then superseded by Sungura music in the 90s. Sungura is originally Zimbabwean, it had a wide fan base, even to this day. This is the typical township music that people would play on radio and enjoy at entertainment joints like bars, pubs, beer halls, clubs and shebeens. Jamaican music such as Reggae was made popular by the coming of Bob Marley to Zimbabwe. Later, Jamaican artists such as Shabba Ranks popularized Dancehall music which was well received and loved by young people at schools, colleges and universities in Zimbabwe. Sean Paul of Get Busy fame was one of the most liked Dancehall artists in Zimbabwe. Thanks to seeds sown by pioneer Jamaican artists, Dancehall Music is now dominant in Zimbabwe, threatening to dislodge Sungura with each passing moon. Zim Dancehall artists such as Winky D can now fill venues and sell out shows, something which could only be done by Sungura artists.

The current Zim generation does not only have a taste for Dancehall music. Right behind the heels of Dancehall music is Afro Hip Hop music, which is not only invading Zimbabwe, but Africa as a whole. It seems every African country wants to have their own Casper Nyovest. There are a lot of Hip Hop groups in Zimbabwe (including those who are US and UK based) competing for attention. A lot of them are satisfied with being featured on local radio. They don’t have ambitions as big as Casper Nyovest, although they are exceptionally talented.

South African House Music has also had an impact on Zimbabwean music. Up until now, there was no serious House artist in Zimbabwe, although the music is popular in the western region. Today, you have significant Zim House artists such as DJ Stavo, Tina Masawi,Willom Tight, including a lot of Zim/South Africa collaborations and DJs. Despite this, people still prefer South African House acts such as Big Nuz, Professor, Babes Wodumo and Kelly Khumalo.

Besides Dancehall, Sungura, Hip Hop and House music, a lot of new artists in Zimbabwe have sprung up with exotic flavours. Some of these artists don’t even know how to classify their music, but I have detected sounds from Kizomba, Calypso, Spanish, Portuguese and Nigerian music.

Zim YouTube Leaders

A review of Zimbabwean artists on YouTube shows that Jah Prayzah is the most popular artist on the platform. He has at least three music videos with over a million views each. His top track Watora Mari has over 3.4 million YouTube views, followed by Hello at over 1.18 million views and Eriza with over 1.4 million views. He has a lot of songs with over 500,000 views.

Jah Prayzah is also the most popular artist in Zimbabwe at the moment. His concerts are always full and sold out, and he has many hits in the local music charts on STAR FM. They say luck follows those who work hard. As a reward for his work, Jah Prayzah was also the first Zimbabwean artist to win the MTV Africa Music Awards in October 2016. The ceremony was hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa at the Ticketpro Dome.

Following behind Jah Prayzah is Ammara Brown. She is one of the most popular Zim artists in this generation. Her most popular music video is Mukoko. It has over 1.2 million views on YouTube. Her second most popular music video (Kure Kure) is approaching a million views on YouTube, currently at 952,057 views. Ammara Brown was the top artist in the 2016 End of Year Top 50 Charts on STAR FM Zimbabwe. Her popular hit track Mukoko came at number 1.

The following music videos featuring Zim artists are not necessarily current generation artists, but they have at least a million views on YouTube:

Leonard Dembo – Must See Remix – 2,441,510 views

Oliver Mtukudzi & Ringo Madlingozi – Into Yami – 1,149,506 views

Pastor Mahendere – Wakanaka Jesu – 1,059,539 views

Tiri Munyasha – Rev Chivaviro & Friends (Official) – 1,199,208 views

Ndinosimudza Maoko Gospel Song – 1,000,149 views

Tambira Jehovah Joyous Celebration 15 – 5,677,136 views

Wasara Wasara Mkhululi Joyous Celebration 18 – 1,344,435 views

Oliver Mtukudzi – Neria – 907,499 views

Radio Charts vs. YouTube vs. Concerts

The Zimbabwe music scene shows correlation on an artist’s popularity between local radio charts and concerts. A lot of popular artists who can fill up concert venues have several hits in the top 50 music charts. However, there are artists who don’t have a presence on YouTube, and those who have a YouTube Channel such as Jah Prayzah and Ammara Brown perform well in all aspects.

Winky D performs well at concerts and he has produced several hits in the Top 50, but his popularity on YouTube is unexpectedly low. Maybe this is due to the fact that he doesn’t have a YouTube Channel.

Of all artists, Jah Prayzah is the most technologically forward and trendy. He has a personal YouTube Channel, a website and Facebook Page.

New artists such as Brian K have proved that you can get in the Top 5 of the local Music Charts by utilizing your social media presence, which is basically mobilizing your social media fans to vote for you on radio. Brian K’s newest music hit Heavy Machine came at number 3 in the 2016 STAR FM Top 50 End of Year List, beating a lot of established giants such as Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Killer T, Rihanna and Chris Brown.

It has to be noted that there are different broadcasting corporations and shows in Zimbabwe e.g. STAR FM, ZiFM, ZTV and Radio Zimbabwe. Artists will perform differently on these shows, losing in some shows and winning in others.

The most high-prized show in Zimbabwe is the Coca Cola Radio Zimbabwe Top 50 and the Coca Cola ZTV Top 50. Prizes worth 2500, 2000 and 1500 USD are awarded respectively to the first, second and third positions on the ZTV competition. The same goes for the Radio competition.

Jah Prayzah won the 2016 Coke Top 50 ZTV competition, followed by Ammara Brown & Tytan. Ammara Brown also won the third prize, which was shared with Ex-Q. Leonard Zhakata, a Sungura artist, won the Radio Zimbabwe Top 50, walking away with 6000 USD in prize money for having tracks in the first, second and third position. The discrepancy in the prize winning patterns across different platforms shows that each radio/TV show in Zimbabwe has a specific demographic, for example the ZTV audience is probably the young and current generation who like modern artists such as Jah Prayzah and Ammara Brown. The Radio Zimbabwe audience is probably dominated by older people and township/rural folk who prefer Sungura music.

Fresh Zimbabwe Hits That You Would Like

• Holiday – by Bantu (US based Zimbabwean Artist/Producer) *
• Heavy Machine – by Brian Kadengu *
• Overrated – by Zim Jam Signal *
• Pamusika – by Mr Kamera Ft Ice Prince, Bryan K and Gemini Major *
• Fungai Nengare – Maybe it’s You*
• Maiwe – by Lamont Chitepo, The Beast (UK based Zimbabwean Artist)*

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Popular Zimbabwe Top 50 Hits on STAR FM Radio

These are some of the frequently played songs on STAR FM Zimbabwe:

• Ndiwanire – by Tytan, Deboy and Sparks
• Ngizikhethele – by Sisolo/Sisonke
• Mwedzi Muchena – by Dj Stavo & Oliver Mutukudzi *
• Ngimtholile – by Dj Stavo *
• Tight Party – by Willom/Gary Tight*
• Takangodaro – by Killer T
• Lazaro – by Winnie Khumalo ft Lynol & Busiswa *
• African Paradox – by Willom Tight / Salif Keita
• Mhandu / Imhandu - by GZE*
• Sthandwa Sami – by Tina Masawi*
• Don't Delay - (ft.Roberto & Simba Tagz)*
• Amen – by Junior Brown *
• Amen Remix – by Junior Brown / Calvin
• Kalife Kemaboss – by Junior Brown & Tytan
• Mukoko – by Ammara Brown & Tytan*
• Watora Mari – by Jah Prayzah Ft. Diamond Platnumz *
• Vanondibatirana – by Fungisai Ft Killer T
• Mdhara Vachauya - by Jah Prayzah

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• Heavy Machine – by Brian Kadengu
• Holiday – by Bantu
• Pamusika – by Brian K

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International Hits:

• All of Me – by Jah Cure*
• Ngud - Kwesta / Casper Nyovest *
• Work – by Rihanna/Drake

Popular Zimbabwe Hits with Millions of Views on YouTube

The following are popular music videos by Zim artists on YouTube, starting at 400,000 views to over 3 million views per video:

• Jah Prayzah Ft. Diamond Platnumz – Watora Mari OFFICIAL VIDEO – 3,479,506 views***
• Ammara Brown – MUKOKO OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO – AMMARA BROWN & TYTAN – YouTube 1,276,219 views ***
• Leonard Dembo – Must See Remix – 2,441,510 views
• Jah Prayzah – Hello OFFICIAL VIDEO – 1,180,712 views***
• Oliver Mtukudzi & Ringo Madlingozi – Into Yami – 1,149,506 views
• Jah Prayzah Eriza (Official Video) – Jah Prayzah – 1,144,355 views***
• Kure kure (Official Video) – Ammara Brown & Jah Prayzah – 952,057 views***
• Jah Prayzah ft Charma Girl – Dali Wangu (Official Video) – Jah Prayzah – 908,487 views***
• Oliver Mtukudzi – Neria – 907,499 views ***
• Fungisai Ft Killer T – VANONDIBATIRANA (Official Video) 2016 – 522,395 views
• Jah Prayzah – Mdhara Vachauya (Official Video) – Jah Prayzah – 697,042 views
• ExQ Bhachura Official Video ft. Ammara Brown – ExQVEVO – 438,554 views
• Selmor Mtukudzi – Nguva Yangu Video – 423,259 views
• Jah Prayzah – Makanika (Official Video) – Jah Prayzah – 572,890 views
• Killer T – Takangodaro [Produced by PTK] June 2016 Zimdancehall – 550,681 views
• Killer T – Takumbofarawo – 432,917 views
• DJ Stavo ft Jah Prayzah – Simudza Ngoma (Official Video) - 526,977 views
• Leonard Dembo Chitekete Complete Version – 403,672 views
• Zimpraise Feat Oliver Mtukudzi (Hear Me Lord) – 269,677 views
• Oliver Mtukudzi – Shamiso – 375,120 views
• Oliver Mtukudzi – Wasakara – 718,060 views ***
• Simon Chimbetu – Samatenga – 473,992 views
• Pah Chihera – Runonzi Rudo Aug 2013 – 609,132 views
• Musavadadira Varume (Pah Chihera) – 418,964 views
• Tocky Vibes – Mhai (Aug 2014) – 765,063 views ***
• Toky Vibes – Ndazokundikana – 725,293 views ***
• Nox – Ndinonyara (Official Video) – Nox Guni – 737,858 views ***
• Trevor Dongo – Ndashamisika – 616,873 views
• Tsviriyo – Jive Z - 514,320 views
• Lady Squanda – Ndinovhaira – (Official Music Video) – 418,729 views
• Ricky Fire ft Bev | Ndiratidze Zvaunoita 2015 | Official Video by SlimDoggz Entertainment – 757,763 views ***
• Freeman – Handina Godo (Official Music Video) – 764,424 views ***

Zim Classic Music – Golden Oldies

The following is Zim Classic Music from the 1980s and 90s. The number of YouTube views is denoted for each music video:

• Bhundu Boys – Hatisi Tose – 326,014 views
• Bhundu Boys – Simbimbino – 308,904 views
• Devera Ngwena Zhimozhi – Devera Ngwena Jazz Band – 39,912 views
• Jonah Moyo and Devera Ngwena - Ndafunga Makare – 87,760 views
• Devera Ngwena Jazz Band – Too Cheap – 20,676 views
• Thomas Mapfumo – Shumba – 505,462 views
• Thomas Mapfumo – Moyo Wangu – 384,002 views
• Thomas Mapfumo – Vanhu Vatema – 285,151 views
• System Tazvida – Ndiridze Mhere – 124,927 views
• System Tazvida – Anodyiwa Haataure – 186,302 views
• Leonard Dembo Chitekete Complete Version – 403,672 views
• Leonard Dembo – Must See Remix – 2,441,510 views
• Oliver Mtukudzi – Wasakara – 718,060 views
• Oliver Mtukudzi – Neria – 912,940 views
• Oliver Mtukudzi – Seiko Mwari – 379,859 views
• Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Full Performance (Live on KEXP) – 563,494 views
• Simon Chimbetu – Samatenga – 473,992 views
• Simon Chimbetu – Pane Asipo – 222,274 views
• Simon Chimbetu – Pakati Pegungwa – 106,248 views
• Simon Chimbetu – Saina – 197,274 views
• Alick Macheso - Tafadzwa Nyarara – 500,154 views
• Leonard Zhakata – Nzombe Huru – 385,323 views
• Leonard Zhakata – Mugove – 346,767 views
• Leonard Karikoga Zhakata – Murume Chaiye 2013 Official Video - 27,069 views
• James Chimombe – Zvaitika – 122,298 views
• John Chibadura – Zuva Rekufa Kwangu – 401,615 views
• John Chibadura – Mudiwa Janet – 354,402 views
• Marshall Munhumumwe – Rudo – 224,810 views
• Marshall Munhumumwe – Rwendo – 205,530 views
• Paul Matavire – Tanga Wandida – 409,321 views
• Jonah Moyo – Solo naMutsai – 191,958 views
• Tsaona – Pengaudzoke – 194,551 views
• Iyasa – Banolila – 208,460 views
• Andy Brown – Daisy – 227,261 views
• Andy Brown – Mawere Kongonya – 302,910 views
• Andy Brown – Mapurisa – 288,350 views
• Tongai Moyo – Ganda Remvura – 370,706 views
• Papa Joze – Ndochi, Shamwari Tamba – 239,183 views
• Lovemore Majaivana – Umoya Wami – 308,876 views
• Zig Zag Band – Gomo Ramasare – 70,344 views
• Zig Zag Band – Mudzimu Mukuru – 17,993 views
• Cephas Madiface Mashakada – Ndarangarira Gamba – 49,740 views
• Mechanic Manyeruke – Nyika Yakanaka – 165,641 views
• Mechanic Manyeruke – Mukombe Wapfachuka – 135,618 views

Gospel Music Featuring Zimbabwean Artists

These are some of the most popular Gospel music tracks by Zim artists on YouTube:

• Pastor Mahendere – Wakanaka Jesu – 1,059,539 views ***
• Fungisai Ft Killer T – Vanondibatirana (Official Video) 2016 – 546,874 views
• LIoyd Tevedzai – Bata Ruoko Rwangu – 596,744 views
• Tiri Munyasha – Rev Chivaviro & Friends (Official) – 1,199,208 views***
• Zimpraise – Sungano Theme Song Covenant 2012 – 617,129 views – ExtolTV
• Kuda Mutsvene – Mhururu (ft Mercy Mutsvene) – 704,088 views – Gospel Nation
• Methias Mhere – Favour (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) – 269,672 views
• Prince Mafukidze – Chitsike – 220,093 views
• Mwari Murizuvaredu – 686,167 views
• Ndinosimudza Maoko Gospel Song – 1,000,149 views ***
• Mazuva Ose Makatendeka (You Are Faithful) – Zimbabwe Worship – 487,253 views
• UFIC Choir – Ishe Wemba Ino – 345,176 views
• Tambira Jehovah Joyous Celebration 15 – 5,677,136 views***
• Wasara Wasara Mkhululi Joyous Celebration 18 – 1,344,435 views***
• Fungisai ft Jah Prayzah – Gore Rapera – 334,042 views
• Handidzokere Kumba – Flame B (Official Video) – 578,590 views
• Mercy – Tichasanganiswa – 278,077 views

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