NoViolet Bulawayo By Staff Reporter The Caine Prize for African Writing celebrated its 25th anniversary with a landmark return to Zimbabwe, centring events on Bulawayo and Harare and honouring NoViolet Bulawayo with a special Best of Caine distinction for her short story Hitting Budapest. The commemorations combined public readings, in‑conversation sessions, workshops, and receptions, reaffirming the Prize’s role in spotlighting African literary talent and reconnecting the aw

Conflicting statements from ZIMURA leaders over 2025 royalty figures spark transparency concerns, raising questions about governance, financial reporting and trust within Zimbabwe’s music rights body HARARE — A fresh wave of scrutiny has engulfed the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) after conflicting public statements by senior officials about the organisation’s 2025 royalty collections triggered a credibility crisis and renewed questions about transparency and gove

Andy Muridzo publicly apologises to former mentor Jah Prayzah through a new song, ending years of tension and signalling reconciliation welcomed across Zimbabwe’s music industry ( image source ) AFRO-fusion artist Andy Muridzo has issued a public apology to his former mentor Jah Prayzah, ending years of public criticism and drawing widespread praise across Zimbabwe’s music industry. The reconciliation follows a prolonged period of tension that began after Muridzo left Jah Pra

Zimura vice-chair First Batani defends his election and rejects past allegations as governance disputes deepen over board elections, asset sales and leadership legitimacy ( image source ) HARARE — Newly elected Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) vice-chairperson First Batani, popularly known as First Farai, has strongly defended his leadership position, dismissing criticism of his election as malicious, agenda-driven and rooted in personal vendettas rather than legiti

Creative Business Academy for Africa launches its 2026 “IMPACT: Ecosystem Template” programme, expanding into music, film and fashion to incubate Africa’s next generation of creative-industry professionals ( image source ) Harare — The Creative Business Academy for Africa (CBAfA), formerly the Music Business Academy for Africa, has unveiled its 2026 programme under the theme “IMPACT: An Ecosystem Template,” signalling a strategic expansion beyond music into film and fashion t

Thomas Mapfumo will return to Zimbabwe in April 2026 for a final homecoming performance, marking an emotional farewell by the Chimurenga music icon and national cultural legend ( image source ) Dr Thomas Tafirenyika Muchadura Mukanya Mapfumo — the Lion of Zimbabwe and a towering figure in Chimurenga music — has announced he will return to Zimbabwe in April 2026 for a special curtain-call performance expected to be his final live appearance in the country. The announcement fol

Zimbabwean musicians confronted ZIMURA in a historic protest over royalties, governance and transparency, as Chief Hwenje’s fiery address symbolised growing industry unrest ( image source ) If you wandered past the Zimbabwe College of Music this past Monday, you might have thought a once-in-a-generation collaboration was loading. Trevor Dongo. Seh Calaz. Guspy Warrior. Ndunge Yuti. Chief Hwenje. All present. All serious. But there were no microphones, no soundchecks, and no h

Breakaway ZIMURA board members accuse the organisation’s leadership of constitutional violations, self-dealing and exploitation of musicians, calling for audits, suspensions and urgent reform ( image source ) The atmosphere was tense and charged when breakaway ZIMURA board members finally faced the media on Monday. This was no routine briefing. It was a public reckoning after a week of turmoil that has shaken Zimbabwe’s music industry to its core. Seated before the cameras, D

Alpha Media Holdings workers allege fraud and mismanagement, claiming unpaid salaries, scrapped benefits and unremitted deductions, as calls grow for a forensic audit and judicial management ( image source ) HARARE — Serious allegations of fraud, looting and financial mismanagement have surfaced at Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), with employees claiming they have gone for more than a year without proper salaries while management continues to impose unilateral changes to contracts

ZIMURA’s January 2026 press statements reveal deep governance failures, hostility toward members, and defiance of court rulings, raising serious questions about legitimacy within the musicians’ union ( image source ) If institutions could commit unforced errors, ZIMURA’s January 2026 press statements would be studied in business schools under the heading: How to Accelerate Your Own Collapse. In two extraordinary documents, the Secretariat did not merely respond to criticism;

A sharp opinion piece on DJ Ollah 7 and Silent Killer Ngwere, examining artist professionalism, predictable chaos, media spectacle, and why no one should be surprised anymore ( image source ) Let’s stop whispering and say it loudly: DJ Ollah 7 is not new to this game. He is a seasoned journalist, a professional chaos translator, and a man who understands exactly how controversy converts into clicks, conversations and data bundles. And Silent Killer Ngwere? He is Zimbabwe’s mo

ZIMURA faces a deepening governance crisis as board members are locked out of official platforms, asset sale questions mount, and musicians demand transparency, accountability and leadership clarity ( image source ) Since the fallout at Zimura, three senior figures Dereck Mpofu, Gift Amuli and Joseph Garakara have publicly distanced themselves from the turmoil engulfing the musicians’ union. For that stance, they say they have been locked out of all official Zimura social med

Kelvin Chikumbirike brings handcrafted marimba and mbira music to life at Gava Restaurant, blending Zimbabwean tradition with Afro-fusion and contemporary sound ( image source ) Soft marimba melodies greet guests at the entrance of Gava Restaurant, where artisan-musician Kelvin Chikumbirike has quietly become the venue’s signature sound for the past six years. His performances create an immediate sense of atmosphere, blending calm, rhythm and cultural familiarity for diners a

ZIMURA faces a deepening governance crisis as three board members disown an unauthorized statement on the controversial Avondale property sale, raising questions of transparency and accountability ( image source ) A deepening governance crisis has emerged at the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA), after three serving board members publicly disassociated themselves from a “Public Notice” issued on 12 January 2026 concerning the controversial sale of the association’s A

Zimbabwean hip-hop artist Shone blends traditional sounds with modern trap, achieving global milestones and redefining Zimbabwe’s presence on the international music stage ( image source ) HARARE — Renowned hip-hop artiste Shone Panashe Quongo, known simply as Shone, has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s most influential musical voices, fusing traditional sounds with contemporary trap to push the country’s music onto global stages. Shone recently became the first Zimbabwean musici

The CADAV Philanthropic Awards will spotlight Africa’s grassroots changemakers in 2026 ( image source ) HARARE — Philanthropy, when rooted in lived experience, can become a powerful engine for inclusive development. On March 28, 2026, that principle will take centre stage at the CADAV Philanthropic Awards, an annual platform dedicated to recognising individuals and institutions driving community-level transformation across Africa. Founded by Dr Lot Mudhimburanwa, the CADAV Aw

Zimbabwean writer Gerald Shorayi has released a children’s book, Mukanyawashe’s Big Adventure, showcasing Zimbabwe’s landscapes, heritage and wildlife through storytelling ( image source ) HARARE — Zimbabwean writer Gerald Shorayi, also known as G Boss the Poet, has released a children’s novel titled Mukanyawashe’s Big Adventure, a story that blends imaginative storytelling with references to Zimbabwe’s natural and cultural heritage. Set partly in Chirinda Forest, the book fo

Zimdancehall artist Blot says he is now drug-free after completing rehabilitation ( image source ) HARARE — Popular Zimdancehall artist Takura Chiwoniso, widely known as Blot, has publicly declared that he is now drug-free after completing a rehabilitation programme, signalling a new chapter in both his personal life and music career. Blot made the revelation during a candid interview on the DJ Olah 7 Podcast, where he opened up about his recovery journey. The Ndiri Bad hitma

Zimbabwean choirs Chitungwiza Harmony Singers and Glorious Melodies Choir shine at a major international competition in Sun City ( image source ) SUN CITY — Zimbabwe’s choral fraternity has earned international acclaim after two ensembles, the Chitungwiza Harmony Singers (CHS) and the Glorious Melodies Choir (GMC), delivered standout performances at a prestigious international choral competition in Sun City, South Africa. Their success, achieved around Unity Day commemoration

Zimbabwean writer and actor Angeline Dimingo has earned continental recognition after her essay was selected for the Narratives Against Poverty in Africa anthology ( image source ) GWERU — Zimbabwean writer and film actor Angeline Dimingo has received continental recognition after her work was selected for the Narratives Against Poverty in Africa anthology, a pan-African literary project that uses storytelling to confront poverty and social inequality. The anthology, produced