Roki Denies Quitting Music, Teases December Release

Zimbabwe’s Urban Grooves star Roki has denied quitting music, confirming he is focused on producing and mentoring while preparing a December Amapiano single that could reignite his regional profile (image source)

Rockford “Roki” Josphat has denied claims that he has left music and confirmed he is working behind the scenes as a producer and mentor while preparing a high-profile Amapiano single slated for December, his management and recent profiles say.

Roki says his public visibility has reduced by design as he focuses on studio production and nurturing younger artists; he signalled that the December single will be a major regional collaboration aimed at reclaiming broader club and playlist traction across southern Africa. After a brief comeback in 2021 under Passion Java Records, Roki continued releasing material and working in recording studios in Harare and South Africa. Streaming metadata and recent releases cited on his Apple Music page list 2024’s single “Tell Me Baby (Disco Jawn)” and the 2025 album “Rockford Gold,” indicating sustained creative output despite fewer stage appearances. Gambakwe’s profile confirms Roki’s birthdate (7 July 1985), notes his relocation to Seke communal area and documents career highlights that include his breakthrough hit “Seiko” and later regional exposure.

Music industry observers say veteran artists increasingly pivot to producing and talent development to extend careers and generate catalog income; Amapiano remains commercially dominant across the region, making a December Amapiano release a strategic choice for radio, clubs and streaming playlists. Producers and label executives note that cross-border collaborations, especially with South African Amapiano acts, raise the odds of playlist inclusion and regional airplay.

Video credits and distribution listings on Passion Java’s YouTube channel and other digital platforms show continued releases and promotional activity tied to Roki, while Gambakwe’s July profile provides personal-detail confirmation and a discography timeline that supports his claim of ongoing studio work. Local reportage and social-media activity by Passion Java and affiliated promoters support the timeline for a year-end rollout and smaller, mentor-led projects in the interim.

Roki rose to national prominence with early-2000s hits and became a defining voice of Zimbabwe’s Urban Grooves scene; his career has included awards, television appearances and controversies, all chronicled in local media and profile pieces. Since 2021 he has appeared selectively at events while increasingly taking on a producer role, a pattern common among artists balancing family life and industry realities.

Fans on social platforms welcomed Roki’s assertion that he has not retired, urging regular singles and a return to live shows. If the December single features a well-known Amapiano collaborator and is supported by playlist placement and video rotation, it could reignite Roki’s mass-market profile and support a mentorship imprint that signs younger artists to regional distribution channels.